Back from the brink

Folk Music Benefit: Sun., Feb. 26, 3 p.m., Dietrich Theater (60 E. Tioga Street, Tunkhannock). Admission by donation. Feat. Lorne Clarke, Tom Flannery, KJ Wagner, Michael Jerling. Info: 570.996.1500, dietrichtheater.com

Tunkhannock seems to be a town where one can revel in the sleepy delight of the so-called good old days, where community is paramount and kindness isn’t a total lost art. And at the heart of that camaraderie is the Dietrich Theater.

“I think that some people gravitate to the Dietrich because they had their first date here several years ago, and they grew up with the Dietrich, and they want to continue sharing that with future generations and their family,” said Erica Rogler, cultural director. “And I think people are really just looking for a great source of entertainment and education.”

From its Fall Film Festival and near-daily movie showings to Wyoming County Reads and the Gathering of Singers and Songwriters, the Dietrich is an epicenter of cultural activities for the friendly little town. When the Susquehanna River breached its banks in September, the onslaught of damage caused by the flooding dramatically halted the theater’s efforts — but not for long.

“I think we bounced back better than ever, honestly,” said Jennifer Jenkins, executive director. “The way that people came out from the community to support us, the volunteers, is amazing.”

And with all the help they received, including daily efforts from seven dedicated volunteers, recuperating didn’t take very long in the grand scheme of things.

“We were able to open up two (of four) theaters in a week’s time,” Rogler said, noting that by December, things were starting to get back to normal. “And if anything, I was awed and inspired by the outpouring support of the community and realized how much the Dietrich meant to everybody.”

Though a tour through the theater’s lobby now boasts new paint and carpeting and shows almost no signs of the remarkable damage inflicted upon it, there are still some things that need to be done. In an effort to move that process along, musician Lorne Clarke, who along with his wife also volunteered during the cleanup, took it upon himself to organize a folk-music show to benefit the organization, which will be presented Sunday, Feb. 26 at the theater.

“They were so badly affected by the flood, there was so much damage, it was kind of an idea to hopefully — to what extent it can — generate some revenue for them as part of the benefit aspect, but also to re-launch the theater as a performance space for live music,” he said.

In fact, the Dietrich’s position as a host of local, original talent is one of the primary reasons why Clarke felt compelled to organize the benefit, which will feature, in addition to Clarke, Tom Flannery, KJ Wagner and Michael Jerling.

“They have, for over a decade, been supporting original music,” Clarke said. “They’re the central hub in Tunkhannock, and really, in Wyoming County, for live music and original artwork, so that’s important to me, important to my family.”

The benefit will be by donation, which essentially means attendees can contribute any amount they choose, as the theater’s revitalization is not yet entirely complete.

“We still have to work on the HVAC system for the original side,” Rogler explained. “To mitigate against future damage, we’re putting that system on the roof.”

Post-flood, the theater itself isn’t the only thing in transition: Rogler and Jenkins, who have been with the Dietrich for about eight and three years, respectively, are still adjusting to their new job titles, though both are still on the board of directors.

“For so long, we had the same ladies, they’re the ones that came in and said, ‘We’re going to put this back together,’” Jenkins said, referring to the people who restored the theater in 2001. “And then when they decided to go, they just sort of said, ‘Well, you do this.’ And we tried that and said, ‘You know what? It actually works better if we switch it around.’ So that’s what we did.”

THE MUSIC GOES ON

Clarke has been the artistic director for the Old Lynn Concert Series, a free musical showcase presented in Lynn, Pa., for more than a decade, and he has also been putting together the roster for the Dietrich’s Gathering of Singers and Songwriters for about as long. Thanks to his connections on that end, finding artists to participate in the benefit wasn’t a challenge.

“And some of them volunteered,” he shared. “When they heard about the damage to the Dietrich and they saw the footage on the Internet of the flooding, we were in communication back at the time that it occurred, and the people that are going to be performing, they all said, ‘Well, if there’s anything going on, just let us know, and we’d love to participate.’

“But then that was part of the reason it took until now to put it together, because they’re all professional musicians, they’ve got schedules.”

He was quick to sing their praises, as he seems to be proud of the talent he will be bringing to the Dietrich’s aid.

“If you check them out online, you’ll see they’re quite accomplished,” he stated. “I think I’m the one with the fewest actual released CDs … It’s not amateur night, you know?”

And the nature of the show seems to be a fitting tribute to the community-centric theater, which is also a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

“I think that the impact of the Dietrich on the town of Tunkhannock can’t be overstated,” Clarke said. “The fact that it’s provided this cultural hub has made a big difference to the vitality of the town. So I figure they do a lot for people, it wouldn’t hurt, if I have the ability, to try to do something for them.”

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