Local actress offers support to Little Theater

FALL RIVER -- Nancy Sorel strolled through The Firebarn that is now home to The Little Theater recently.

"This is where I got my start," the one-time day television soap actress said.

In town to visit her father who is recovering from heart surgery, Ms. Sorel couldn't resist going back to the stage where her acting career began.

It was her high school English teacher at BMC Durfee who got her hooked on acting.

"He was a drama coach and asked us if anyone was interesting in being in a play -- I think it was the Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," Ms. Sorel said.

She signed up.

Ms. Sorel ultimately graduated from Durfee and went on to UMass Amherst where she studied theater and film.

Then she packed her bags and headed to California. She's performed in daytime soaps such as "One Life to Live," another series, "New Generations," and has worked six months in an off-Broadway production.

She had parts in several movies on the Fox network and has starred with Christopher Reeve, Peter Strauss, Tim Matheson and even got a part in one "X-files' production.

The actress is currently working on a movie that is expected to be released sometime next year called "I love you, Don't Touch me."

She took the tour of The Firebarn with her sister, Carol Fiola, and Kathy Castro, publisher of OJornal.

"I heard they were in the middle of a fund-raiser and I thought if I came by, it might help them," Ms. Sorel said.

The Firebarn is at the corner of Highland Avenue and Prospect Street and it's a brick building built in the early 1900s.

Little Theater of Fall River, Inc. obtain the property from the city in 1984 and has been working diligently to turn it into a performing arts center for the community.

A major fund-raising event will be held June — when a roast of Senate Majority Leader Thomas C. Norton will be held at White's of Westport.

"I just love the improvements they have made so far at the building," Ms. Sorel said.

Some of the improvements include restrooms accessible to the handicapped, an addition for set storage and construction, a new heating and air conditioning system, a new lobby entrance and renovated theater lobby, and a second-floor bathroom/dressing room with a shower.

"It seems so much bigger and better. And I wanted to lend my support to help raise funds so the group can offer scholarships for students who want to study the arts," Ms. Sorel said.

She said it's very difficult for high school seniors to get scholarships to study the arts.

"For some reason, people don't take that as seriously. I wasn't awarded anything, even though I was president of my class, basically once they learned I wanted to pursue a career as an actress. I'm sure that's why I didn't get any," she said.

Staff photo by Hank Seaman

Television actress Nancy Sorel perches on the circular staircase at The Little Theater in Fall River, where she visited to lend support to a fund-raiser to continue renovations of the theater.