Nonprofit group forms to pursue rebirth of Derry theater

Joan Reynolds wants to bring the arts back to downtown Derry.

She achieved the first part of her plan when she repurchased the former theater building she owned more than two decades ago.

Local bands took to the stage of the Gem Theater in the 1990s while Reynolds operated a bakery and catering business in what once had been the lobby.

She closed her business in 2000 and, the following year, sold the building at 149½ E. First Ave. for $15,000 to a man who used it for storage and living space.

In 2012, she bought it back for the same price, and she recently established a Friends of the Gem Theater nonprofit with the aim of revitalizing the structure as a base for a variety of cultural activities.

“I couldn’t resist,” Reynolds said of her decision to resume ownership of the theater. “We have a lot of things in the planning stages.”

The Blairsville resident envisions the next chapter in the century-old building’s story: “Entertainment of all kinds: live theater productions, musical performances and, eventually, the ability to show movies. The basement will become a studio for artisans, where they can paint and do pottery.”

The theater’s former lobby most recently has been used as a meeting room for the nonprofit. Reynolds wants to return it to its original function, with the walls displaying artwork created in the basement studio.

She suggests a second-floor apartment could be converted into a greenroom where performers could gather before taking the stage. A projection booth would have to be re-created to show films.

Reynolds has yet to decide on a seating plan — traditional theater rows or cabaret-style. The original theater seats had been removed when she first owned the building. Now, circular tables are arranged on a raised platform that was added at the rear of the theater space in between Reynolds’ two stints as proprietor.

Reynolds said her initial goal is to raise about $50,000 to take care of the brick building’s structural issues, including repairs to the rear wall.

At last count, the nonprofit had amassed close to $3,000 through donations.

Sale to benefit theater project

A sale was held recently at the theater as a fundraiser and to clear out a variety of flea market-type items left behind by the previous owner.

As noted in a vintage publication, The Moving Picture World, ground was broken in 1916 for construction of the “new Gem” theater, which began exhibiting silent films.

“Only pictures will be shown and a continuous performance without waits will be given,” according to an item in the issue of Sept. 9, 1916.

Seating up to 300 patrons, the Gem screened Hollywood movies until 1970, after which it was used briefly by a local theater group, according to information posted on cinematreasures.org.

The building housed a hardware store and then a dog grooming business before Reynolds moved her bakery there in 1987.

In the mid-1990s, after young patrons became curious about the shuttered theater space behind her bakery, Reynolds allowed them to book local bands for concerts and dances there.

“I said to the kids, ‘Here’s the space. You do your own fliers and promote your own shows,’ ” Reynolds said. “It was just a real scene, and it was fun.”

Reynolds offered concessions — including vegan pizza — for the events, which she said attracted some Goth bands. According to Reynolds, some local officials weren’t enthused by the crowds the shows attracted and objected to her dual use of the building.

“I just had enough and said, ‘I’ll just close the business,’ ” Reynolds said.

From ’90s music scene to nonprofit

Some of the “kids” who were involved in the 1990s shows at what was then billed as the Derry Theatre have returned to help with Reynolds’ new nonprofit venture.

Before he graduated from Derry Area High School in 1996, Neal Skacel played gigs at the theater, performing what he described as experimental jazz rock.

After going on to music school and launching a career in California as a sound engineer for live events, Skacel returned to the Derry area. He now serves as the production committee chairman for the Friends of the Gem.

“Since I moved back, I always had my eye on this place, wondering if they were ever going to do anything with it,” he said. “I’d like to see a multi-use event space that is open to all sorts of performing arts.”

Skacel has fond memories of performing there.

“It was so important to us because you could present your music the way you felt it, and nobody tried to censor you,” he said.

Skacel said he borrowed musical equipment from the high school to enhance his performances.

“I remember borrowing a Fender Rhodes (electric piano), some bongo drums and their Fender Twin amplifier,” he said. “I played trumpet. That was my main instrument.”

While still a student at Hempfield Area High School, Rachel Skrgic booked musicians at the Derry theater — including members of locally formed rock band The Juliana Theory, which went on to record several albums.

Skrgic, who graduated from high school in 2000, now lives in Sewickley Township and is among those volunteering services for the Friends of the Gem.

“Joan contacted me because she knew I loved this theater so much,” Skrgic said. “When I heard they were redoing it, I wanted to be involved any way I can.”

A structural engineer and architect have donated their services for the building restoration effort, Reynolds said. In addition to wall and plaster repairs, she’s expecting the theater will need some plumbing revisions before other renovations take place.

How Reynolds’ plans for the theater progress will largely depend on permitting processes and funding availability, she said.

“We just have to keep raising money and looking for some larger donors who really appreciate music and the performing and visual arts and want to see another theater in a small town come back to life,” Reynolds said.

For more information, visit the group’s Facebook page.