New Artistic Director Named For Williamstown Theatre Festival

Western Massachusetts' Williamstown Theatre Festival announced Wednesday that it is bringing on a new artistic director.

The new director, Jenny Gersten, is a Williamstown veteran, as she worked as an associate producer there for eight years — from 1996 until 2004. She currently works in New York City as an associate producer for The Public Theater.

Gersten will follow in the footsteps of Nicholas Martin, who will leave the Williamstown post at the end of this year's summer season. Martin is the former director of Boston's Huntington Theatre Company.

In a statement, Gersten said, “The opportunity to return to the Williamstown Theatre Festival as artistic director brings me immeasurable satisfaction and joy. Williamstown is one of my most favorite places on earth, and the combination of the memorable experiences I’ve had there, along with the future I envision for WTF, fills me with hope for what the next few years could bring."

She added: "I’ve had an extraordinary six years away from the Berkshires ... I can’t wait to come back and bring the fruits of that knowledge to bear this new time.”