WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Williamstown Theatre Festival on Monday announced that Mandy Greenfield has resigned as artistic director and a former artistic director at the festival has stepped in to lead the company on an interim basis.

 

Jenny Gersten, who was the WTF's artistic director from 2010-14 and an associate producer from 1996-2004, will lead the upcoming summer season, the festival announced by email.

 

Greenfield resigned her position in "late October," according to a release from the festival.

 

Last summer, the Williamstown Theatre Festival drew national attention for labor strife among its personnel during the production of outdoor performances at the Clark Art Institute.

 

"As we take this next step toward the future, we want to thank Mandy Greenfield for all the work and support during her time here, and we wish her the best of luck on her next artistic journey," WTF Board Chair Jeffrey Johnson said in the announcement.

 

"The board is thrilled to welcome Jenny Gersten back to our community. She has a track record of success here and close relationships with all of our stageholders."

 

The announcement of Gersten's installation said information about the 2022 season will be announced after the first of the year.

 

"The opportunity to come back to Williamstown is a genuine honor and the right challenge for me at this time in my career," Gersten said in the announcement. "I look forward to being part of the ongoing evolution at Williamstown Theatre Festival and working with the board, staff and community to imagine a paradigm shift which fosters values to make the theater a thriving homefor artists and audiences for many years to come."

 

Gersten currently is the line producer of "Beetlejuice" on Broadway and executive producer for the musical "Born for This." The announcement notes that she works with WTF regular Jessica Hecht on The Campfire Project, "an arts program that primarily serves Syrian refugees at a camp in Greece."