Sofia Morana
Technical Specialist in Project and Stage Management
Affiliation: NYU Abu Dhabi
Education: BA (Hons) - Bolton University: Stage Management and Live Events Production; MSC - Northumbria University: Psychology Sciences
Sofia Morana holds a Master’s degree in Psychology Sciences from Northumbria University and a Bachelor’s in Stage Management and Live Events from Backstage Academy (Bolton University). She combines her academic foundation with extensive professional experience in international theater production, events management, and arts education. Morana has pursued continued professional development in mental health, leadership, and event safety, holding certifications in DBS (working with vulnerable adults), First Aid, Fire Safety, and Mental Health First Response. She is particularly passionate about the intersection of student well-being and live performance training.
Morana's scholarly interests include the psychological development of emerging professionals in the arts, the cultivation of safe and inclusive rehearsal environments, and the reform of outdated working practices in the entertainment industry. During her postgraduate studies, she focused on developmental and occupational psychology, with an emphasis on boundary-setting, identity formation, and emotional resilience among early-career artists. She is currently exploring how institutional structures impact the long-term mental well-being of performers and production teams.
Morana has served as General Manager for Broadway Entertainment Group in Dubai, leading international touring productions including The Phantom of the Opera, The Little Prince, and others. She also worked as a Project Manager for Expo 2020 and later as a Stage Manager for Al Wasl Plaza, Expo 2020. She has collaborated with Backstage Academy, XPlor One, and International Medical Aid to deliver training programs and cultural education initiatives across the Middle East and Africa. In recognition of her work, Morana has been invited to mentor student stage managers and production teams in a variety of cross-disciplinary settings, including commercial theater, arts education, and large-scale live events.