Tony-winning producer Jenny Gersten has been named VP & Artistic Director, Musical Theatre at New York City Center. The new role will see Gersten leading the Manhattan venue's Encores! series along with the annual gala presentations. The hiring follows the departure of Encores! Artistic Director Lear deBessonet, who is set to exit the position to take the reigns at Lincoln Center Theater beginning in June.
The move is a promotion for Gersten, who has served as VP & Producer since 2020. While in the role, Gersten worked on recent City Center runs of Jelly's Last Jam, Once Upon a Mattress, Ragtime, and Titanic. Gersten and deBessonet's work in the last season saw musical theatre attendance reach an all-time high, and with 30% of tickets sold for $40 or less.
Gersten will work alongside Dance Artistic Director Stanford Makishi and Education and Community Engagement VP Tia Powell-Harris to expand the intersections between City Center's various programming. The Encores! artistic team also includes Music Director Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Producing Creative Director Clint Ramos.
“I’m a New Yorker first and a musical theatre fan second," says Gersten in a statement. "Making musicals happen at City Center is the greatest privilege—to be of service not just to musical theatre lovers, but also to our many communities. What I enjoy most is giving audiences what they want and presenting them with something they didn’t know they wanted. We have brought a diversity of artists to Encores! and the annual gala productions in the last few seasons, and I look forward to building on these efforts with Clint and Mary-Mitchell and collaborating with Stanford and Tia on the crossover between musical theatre, dance, and our education and community engagement programming. City Center holds a special place for me and so many artists, and I feel so fortunate to be continuing this journey with the talented staff and dedicated audience.”
"Jenny is a brilliant leader and deeply beloved for good reason," adds deBessonet. "During my time as artistic director of Encores!, she, along with Clint and Mary-Mitchell, have been the most extraordinary partners I could have asked for and I am ecstatic for the next beautiful chapter of Encores! under their care."
Gersten has previously served as associate producer and artistic director of Williamstown Theatre Festival, associate producer at The Public Theater, executive director of Friends of the High Line, and producer at PAC NYC. Her Broadway producing credits include Just for Us, Beetlejuice, Parade, and Once Upon a Mattress, along with Off-Broadway productions of Sweeney Todd and Walk On Through.
“Jenny has been instrumental in the success of our musical theatre programs," says City Center President and CEO Michael S. Rosenberg. "Her artistic sensibilities and deep ties to the community brought new voices to our productions, and her deft producing skills provide the crucial space for an artist’s vision to take shape. She has a keen understanding of City Center’s legacy, and her long-standing experience in the industry makes her the natural choice. We are truly fortunate to have such a thoughtful and engaged leader to build upon our artistic success and mission of accessibility.”
City Center is readying to launch the 2025 Encores! season with Urinetown, performing February 5-16. The season will also include runs of Love Life and Wonderful Town.