Bruce Wheeler Named General Manager Of New York’s Capitol Theatre

Courtesy of the Capitol Theatre – Bruce Wheeler
Music industry veteran Bruce Wheeler has assumed the role of general manager at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y.

Bruce Wheeler has assumed the role of the Capitol Theatre’s general manager, the Port Chester, N.Y., venue announced Thursday.

The 30-year veteran of the music industry was previously the venue’s director of production.

“I’m thrilled for the opportunity to head up the amazing staff here at the cap,” Wheeler said in a statement. “The history of this room is unparalleled, the job is as much of a caretaker of its legacy as it is GM. The team that Peter Shapiro has built here is second-to-none, and I’m appreciative of his desire and devotion to have the Capitol Theatre continue to be one of the premiere touring and event destinations in the northeast.”

Wheeler has an extensive history in the music business, that includes a tenure as GM of New York City’s Central Park Summerstage and stints as tour and production manager for artists including Regina Spektor, Jimmy Fallon and Cage the Elephant. He also worked at labels Caroline, MCA and J Records.

“I first met Bruce when he was general manager at Central Park Summerstage and I was on the board,” Shapiro, who owns the Cap, said in a statement. “Every time I attended a show, he was there with a firm handshake and a warm smile and hello. It sounds like a simple thing, but not everyone does that every time you see them.

“That’s how we like to do things at the Capitol,” Shapiro continued. “With a smile, every time. Combine that with Bruce’s decades of production knowledge and experience, both on the road and in venues, and he’s the perfect person to take the reins from the esteemed Tom Bailey and make magic happen at the Capitol Theatre.”

Bailey is now the GM of San Francisco’s Peninsula Arts Guild.

Shapiro, who also co-founded Brooklyn Bowl, discussed his venue operation philosophy with VenuesNow earlier this year.

“The experience is an accumulation of a lot of little things,” he said. “Things like the volume setting, the acoustics, the seating, the entry experience, the visuals, screens, the lighting, the bathroom experience. All those things are really important to what we do. You may notice and even if you don’t, I think you do and you don’t even realize you do.”

Shapiro said that what sets the Cap apart from other theaters is that “we treat the venue as a community.”