In recognition of Women’s History Month 2021, ‘Backstage at Bearsville’, explores the important contribution that Woodstock women have made within the music industry over the last 60 years. The interview-based series, created by Bearsville Productions, is shot on location at the iconic Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, NY and is hosted by Lizzie Vann and engineered by Robert Frazza.

The show spotlights 5 inspiring women who have been involved in the music industry through different decades. Our focus is upon driving the recognition of women in music. We explore the challenges faced in this male dominated industry.

Backstage at Bearsville is honored to host some of Woodstock’s finest artists including: Johanna Hall, Julie Last, Lara Hope, Marylou Arnold and Layla Michalopoulos.

Each 15-minute segment, with Bearsville Steward Lizzie Vann, delves into their professional lives to understand how their determination and ambition has affected their place in the industry.  Primary topics for discussion include: their feelings about the industry, resilience in the face of a lack of respect, overcoming gender discrimination, the importance of women working together to amplify their voice, the pay gap, harassment, and coping with the challenges of COVID.

Watch all 5 interviews below.

Recording Engineer/Producer Julie Last has been active in the music recording business for more than 25 years. She joined New York City’s Record Plant Studios in the mid-1970’s and became one of only a handful  of women who fought their way into the control rooms of major recording studios. She worked on albums with seminal rock bands of the time and in 1980 was specially invited to assist in the recording of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s multi-platinum Double Fantasy recording sessions.  In NYC, she worked with Aerosmith, Talking Heads, Cheap Trick, Lou Reed, The Clash and Brian Eno. And after moving to Los Angeles, she worked primarily with leading singer/songwriters including Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Shawn Colvin, and in 1994 was a Grammy selection committee choice for Best Engineer for her recording of Rickie Lee Jones’ Traffic From Paradise’

Lara Hope: Queen of Roots, Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Rockabilly Twang. Known for her trademark red-framed glasses, Lara is a pioneer not only in her music, but in the way in which she wants to be recognised within the industry. She chose compassion and kindness over ego: “Don’t have an ego. We say it concisely: show up on time and be nice. Be nice to the booker, be nice to the sound person, be nice to the bartender, be nice to the other bands on the bill. That’s the most important thing you can do.”

Layla Michalopoulos; a talented 20-year-old singer-songwriter and author of Phenomenal Women; an empowering anthology of writings, interviews, and photography showcasing the opinions and experiences of high school and college-age young women. Written when she was 17, it provides a platform for her interviewees to express their views on women’s issues and to tell their stories.

Marylou Arnold is the long-established Tour Manager for Todd Rundgren. With a background in art and music, Marylou simply showed up at Albert Grossman’s place in Bearsville in January 1980, after hearing Albert’s artist Todd Rundgren was going to open a music video studio on site, and said “do you guys need any help?” After 3 years of working on site, she had earned such credibility with the male oriented team, that Todd asked her to be his Tour Manager. She has been a constant presence in the Todd Rundgren ecosystem and fandom ever since, hugely respected for her work ethic, professionalism, and beautiful spirit.