Meet Peter Shapiro: Bearsville Theater’s New Living-Legend Music Promoter 

Music and the village of Woodstock are synonymous. For decades, acclaimed musicians have lived, performed, or been inspired by the “world’s most famous small town.” And while there’s no shortage of places to catch a live show in Woodstock and its outskirts, now that renowned music promoter Peter Shapiro—who also runs The Capitol Theater in Port Chester and Brooklyn Bowl—has taken the helm at the Bearsville Theater, guests can expect an elevated experience at the beautiful historic venue.

Not only has Shapiro filled the theater’s calendar with a diverse array of high-caliber music and comedy acts, but he’s also enhanced Bearsvile’s sound system to rival those of famous venues worldwide.

We had the opportunity to chat with Shapiro about his vision for the theater and its place in both Woodstock and the upstate music community.

How did you become involved with the venue?

To start, Lizzie Vann did an amazing job renovating the grounds and the theater when she took over Bearsville Center a few years ago. Not long after, I heard there might be an opportunity at the venue, so Lizzie and I began talking while they got back to doing shows regularly (post-pandemic). It took a while to do it the right way because we didn’t want to rush it, but we were both in.

With The Cap and Brooklyn Bowl thriving, what drew you north to Bearsville and Woodstock in general?

It was the opportunity to take on a venue with a magical history. Just like The Cap, there’s something so meaningful about bringing new energy to these historic spaces. In Woodstock, there are already some great spots; the Colony and the various performing arts venues are great, and it’s really cool to see how much love there is for all of these venues in Woodstock. We see it at Bearsville, too; so many people have come by saying they love the theater and want to see it thrive.

What are some updates that concert-goers can look forward to?

Bearsville now has the latest and best sound system in the world. We installed a new Meyer sound system. We also have Chris Ragan on lights, who’s been a lighting designer for Dead & Co., moe, and does lighting at Brooklyn Bowl and The Cap.

Did you have to make many adjustments to achieve the sound quality you hoped for?

The venue was built to be acoustically perfect—it was built by John Storyk, a craftsman and architect who also created Electric Lady Studios. So, the venue was designed to produce great sound, but I didn’t think it had the perfect sound system. And now the sound is extraordinary. It’s an A venue with an A team.

There’s been talk of whether the venue’s new direction will align with your other ventures; do you see Bearsville becoming “The Cap North?”

The Cap North is fair, given the artists and caliber of performances, but Bearsville truly stands on its own. It’s a great stop for bands traveling through, playing in the city for a few days, or even as far as Boston, where they can play a show here as a stop along the way. And I think fans will travel for a band they want to see, especially when the show is in a town like Woodstock.

How did you go about selecting the first season’s lineup?

We’ve been starting to see a surge in indie rock interest up here, and I think part of that is because so many people moved up from Brooklyn. Lesser-known bands, meaning those who don’t get major airplay, like Perfume Genius, have been selling out, so we wanted to bring in some newer artists but also classics that we know people love. So you’ll see a range from the Dirty Dozen Brass Band to the Jayhawks to Karina Rykman. We’re excited to announce will have Jeff Tweedy for three nights in October. I love the diversity of sound that we have on the calendar; it’s really exciting, and it’s just the beginning.

How have the changes been received so far?

The community has stepped right up, and our first night sold out. I’m grateful. I wholeheartedly believe that great music venues are good for a community. People like magic, and they need it.

Are you spending more time in Woodstock?

Definitely. Tinker Street has this great fairy-tale vibe. I’m a big fan of the village and of the whole Bearsville Center. It was designed to bring people joy, and in this age of crazy, it’s important to try to make more people feel happy.

What are your favorite hot spots or things about town?

HappyLife Productions Gallery on Tinker is a great spot. I like Bread Alone for coffee. Woodstock Way is a favorite for lodging. Also, the people—some great creatives live right in town. Amanda Palmer was a big advocate for me taking on Bearsville; she was like, “Dude, you gotta go for it!”

What’s next for Bearsville Theater?

Keep bringing in amazing performers and encouraging people to support shows. It’s a great reason to explore the town, too. Being here is like being around friends. The people in Woodstock have great vibes, and the town is all part of the experience you get at Bearsville.

Thanks for your time!

Rock’ n roll. Peace.

Photos Courtesy of Bearsville Theater + Bahram Forough @bahramforoughiphotography + Chase Pierson @chasepiersonphotography

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