How Jenny Gersten Reimagines Theatre on the New York City Center Stage | Game Changers w/ Katharine Quinn

Jenny Gersten is reshaping musical theater at New York City Center—and she's not afraid to take risks. From programming Bat Boy as a gala to championing forgotten gems like High Spirits, the VP and Artistic Director of Encores! is proving that bold choices and passionate collaborators make magic happen. In this conversation, Jenny opens up about her legendary theatrical lineage, the brutal realities facing nonprofit theater, her unexpected detour running Virgin Voyages' entertainment, and why she believes community-building is the secret ingredient to great art. Plus: exclusive reveals about the 2026 Encores! season, including La Cage aux Folles with Billy Porter and Wayne Brady.This is Game Changers—your backstage pass to the innovators transforming Broadway.Director and Executive ProducerKatharine QuinnProducerJake RopkaEditorBrian TruongAssociate Producer Eli TokashPhotographer and Production AssistantOlivia Kuan Romano0:00 Meet Jenny Gersten8:45 Bat Boy Resistance15:32 Theatrical Lineage22:18 Williamstown31:47 Selecting Encores! Shows38:29 2026 Season Reveals45:52 Virgin Voyages Era53:16 Fixing Broadway1:02:41 Heroes and Inspiration