Peter Shapiro has added another room to his ever-expanding portfolio of classic venues, inking a long-term lease to manage and program the historic Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, NY.
Situated in the Hudson Valley’s bucolic Catskills region, the storied theater was built in 1989 to accompany the Bearsville Studios, where artists including Patti Smith, The Rolling Stones, REM and The Pretenders recorded with Bearsville leading artist manager/entrepreneur Albert Grossman.
Shapiro will manage the venue through his firm Dayglo Presents, which owns and operates the Brooklyn Bowl in New York, Las Vegas, Philadelphia and Nashville, along with the Capitol Theater in Port Chester, New York. Shapiro said he believes the 500-capacity venue easily routes for bands traveling to and from New York City and plans to stage multi-night runs to the venue, carrying on the tradition of creating unique opportunities for artists dating back to Shapiro’s time at the famed Wetlands in the late 1990s.
“Bearville is an incredible room, carefully constructed from an 18th-century ‘Dutch’ barn carved out of ornate wood in this incredibly special location that draws people seeking a deeper experience,” Shapiro said. “Im blessed to have the opportunity to be part of this revival, joining music fans to write the theater’s next chapter and create unforgettable experiences.”
The revived Bearsville Theater will be managed by general manager Frank Bango who previously managed the Bowery Ballroom, and talent buyer Mike Campbell, formerly with The Colony in Woodstock.
Bearsville will reopen June 1 with a performance from Don Was and feature shows from Guster, Dawes, Guided By Voices, Drive-By Truckers, Mdou Moctar, The Beths, Andy Frasco & The U.N., Dresden Dolls, The Zombies, The Jayhawks and more.
“The Bearsville Theater has a deep and amazing history that I am excited to preserve and lift, as we put our touch on a new era for this legendary Woodstock icon,” Shapiro said, thanking the theater’s current owner Lizzie Vann “for her passion and dedication to Bearsville since she bought and lovingly restored the property in 2019. We appreciate her trust in us and are looking forward to a long working relationship.”
