Dayglo Presents, a leading live entertainment and media company led by independent concert promoter Peter Shapiro, today announced that it has taken over operations of the historic Bearsville Theater. Located in a bucolic setting just outside the town of Woodstock, New York, the storied theater, built by Albert Grossman, legendary manager of such legends as Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul and Mary, The Band, and Janis Joplin, and restored by owner Lizzie Vann, has served historically as a focal point for nurturing the musical and artistic community in the region. Dayglo Presents will oversee the revived theater’s next chapter with deep respect for the venue’s connection to music history and a desire to offer unforgettable experiences for its new and returning audiences. The revived Bearsville Theater team includes new General Manager Frank Bango and Talent Buyer Mike Campbell.
Bearsville’s reopening features a full slate of leading performers including Don Was, 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 to be announced.
Tickets can be purchased at bearsvilletheater.com. Bearsville Theater is located at 291 Tinker Street in Woodstock, NY,
Bearsville Center, a 15-acre enclave in Woodstock, has served as a touchstone in music history since the 1960s, when then-owner and leading artist manager/entrepreneur Albert Grossman welcomed musical luminaries---including longtime client Bob Dylan---to his Catskills home for creative inspiration. With the construction of Bearsville Studios in 1969, major artists, including Patti Smith, The Rolling Stones, REM, Muddy Waters, Todd Rundgren, Rush, and The Pretenders, recorded at Bearsville until the studio’s closing in the early 2000s. The renowned performance space, Bearsville Theater, which opened in 1989, was constructed from an 18th-century ‘Dutch’ barn and designed by John Storyk, creator of Electric Lady Studios for Jimi Hendrix. Today, the property named Bearsville Center comprises the Bearsville Theater, two restaurants, a café and bar, residences, and the Utopia Sound Stage, a live Recording Studio, designed in 1979 as an innovative video studio for Todd Rundgren.
Peter Shapiro, Founder, Dayglo Presents, said, “I have led the creation of new concepts and built great venues from scratch like Brooklyn Bowl, but I’ve also been fortunate to breathe new life into some historic venues, like Wetlands and The Capitol Theatre. 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. We want to thank 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.”
Frank Bango, General Manager, Bearsville Theater, said, “Through my conversations with Pete and Chris Moody (Dayglo Presents), I could feel the passion and heart that they were going to be bringing to this legendary space. Pete’s reputation is far-reaching and highly esteemed. When I coupled that with the opportunity to help reignite the musical flame in Woodstock and the offer to provide hospitality to world class musicians in a revered building, I quickly realized I’d be an idiot not to accept their offer. In the short time I’ve been on board, I’ve been welcomed by a stupendous team of hard working, passionate music lovers that understand the importance music plays in bringing people together and building community. In this day and age, I find that an irresistible combination.”
Mike Campbell, Talent Buyer, Bearsville Theater, said, "I've admired the work Peter has done at Brooklyn Bowl, The Capitol Theatre and Wetlands from afar for years. When he let me know that he was taking over the operations of Bearsville and asked me to book the calendar, I knew that there was no one better to be at the helm of this new venture than he and the talented individuals he has assembled around him at Dayglo Presents. I am honored to be a part of the Dayglo family, and do not take lightly the responsibility of maintaining the legacy of Bearsville while providing the Catskills and Hudson Valley with world class live events.”
ABOUT PETER SHAPIRO
Independent music entrepreneur Peter Shapiro continues to explore a range of passion projects. He has owned and operated renowned venues Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas, Brooklyn Bowl Nashville, Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia, The Capitol Theatre, Garcia’s and Wetlands Preserve. In 2015, he produced Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of the Grateful Dead, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA and Chicago’s Soldier Field. Shapiro founded Lockn’, a four-day music and camping festival held in Nelson County, Virginia as well as Jazz & Colors, an experiential music event held in Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He is the creator of FANS, the immersive livestreaming platform with its innovative “Be in the Stream'' feature that allows audiences to tune in and appear alongside the artists. He also originated the Rock and Roll Playhouse, developing the family concert series into a weekly national concert series that takes place in over 25 markets across America. His other endeavors include the IMAX concert films U2 3D and All Access, the Jammys awards show, the Green Apple Earth Day Festival, and Easy Rider Live. Shapiro serves as publisher of Relix magazine and sits on the board of a number of civic and charitable organizations, including: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum, New York Public Radio, and City Parks Foundation. In 2019, Peter was named Chairman of HeadCount, one of the leading youth voter engagement and participation organizations in America.
ABOUT FRANK BANGO
Frank Bango has been living full-time in The mid-Hudson valley since 2012 after 23 years in New York City. Much of his early time in NYC centered on developing as a musician and songwriter, releasing albums on his own Sincere Recording Company label, performing live in music venues across NYC and the country, and having his music placed in television, film, and international ad campaigns. In the late 90's he began an association with the founders of the Bowery Ballroom as they launched the venue that has enjoyed a fabled reputation among musicians and audiences alike. During his tenure, Bango acquired a full spectrum of skills in the concert promotion and live music industry and went on to assist the team in launching other landmark venues in the city—namely, Music Hall of Williamsburg and Terminal 5—as well as in organizing systems for remote concerts in Brooklyn’s McCarren Park and other outdoor locations throughout the city. In The spring of 2008, Bango was tapped to be the GM of the Bowery Ballroom, which, under his tenure, was awarded Pollstar magazine’s Best Venue in the USA. Bango takes on the General Manager role at Bearsville Theater in June 2024.
ABOUT MIKE CAMPBELL
Mike Campbell has made the Hudson Valley his home since 2013 and has worked in nearly every facet of the music industry. Campbell was the Talent Buyer and Venue Manager for The Colony in Woodstock, NY from 2017-2023, and during his tenure, the Colony was voted Best Music Venue in The Hudson Valley several years in a row. Campbell has also worked as a music publicist and as a tour manager, production coordinator, and stage manager in club, theater, arena and stadium-sized venues. He is himself a touring and recording artist, having lent his musicianship to dozens of commercially released albums, and performed on countless national and international tours. It is this 360-degree view of a life in music that gives him a unique aptitude for curating and executing singular, unforgettable live music experiences for fans and artists alike.
ABOUT DAYGLO PRESENTS
Dayglo Presents is a live music and media company led by independent music impresario Peter Shapiro. Since its inception as Dayglo Ventures in 2012, Dayglo has built a reputation for creating unique and meaningful experiences. The company operates Brooklyn Bowl venues in multiple cities, The Capitol Theatre and Garcia’s in Port Chester, New York, and LOCKN’ Farm in Arrington, Virginia. In April 2024 it was announced that Dayglo would be taking over the historic Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, NY.
Dayglo Presents also originated The Rock and Roll Playhouse, a national family concert series in over 26 states across America. Dayglo created FANS.live, the immersive livestreaming platform. Dayglo Presents also publishes Relix Magazine, two highly trafficked music websites Relix.com and Jambands.com, and owns digital ad agency Hear & There.
Other live events and experiences created and/or produced by Peter Shapiro and his team at Dayglo Presents include Fare Thee Well, Celebrating 50 Years of the Grateful Dead, Jazz & Colors, a unique set of concerts in Central Park and other locations, The Women’s March, The March for Science, Easy Rider Live, Brooklyn Bowl Family Reunion at SXSW and the Bob Weir & Phil Lesh Duo tour.
