This week, I had the opportunity to sit down with Fieldston alum Jenny Gersten (‘87) to discuss her time at Fieldston. Gersten now works as a line producer on Broadway for shows including “Beetlejuice” and “Sweeney Todd.” According to Gersten, attending Fieldston had a lasting impact on her, changing her outlook on life.
After graduating from Fieldston, Gersten received a B.A. from Oberlin College. She knew that she wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps, and it just so happens that the opportunity presented itself at Fieldston. Gersten’s father, Bernard Gersten, was a theatrical producer himself. In addition to teaching his daughter the five elements of theatrical productions, he worked at the New York Shakespeare Festival, Lincoln Center and won over 15 Tony awards. Back at Fieldston, Jenny Gersten was working to design posters and sell tickets for school productions. Now she does that on a much larger scale working on Broadway. From promoting the show to finding buildings, she’s contributed to the success of award-winning musicals Beetlejuice and Sweeney Todd.
Gersten says that the ethics curriculum at Fieldston had a significant impact on her. “It was valuable to have mindfulness around ethics because I don’t know that I would’ve gotten it in my home, and I didn’t have religion. And Ethics is one of those things, that either you’re taught it or you’re not… those are principles that don’t necessarily show up in other forms of your upbringing or your formal education.” She acknowledges that while she may have taken the classes for granted at the time, she appreciates what she learned and how they influenced her.
Additionally, Gersten has fond memories of the Fieldston campus, which she saw as a true escape from the city. She also found the people made a lasting impact: from teachers to lifelong friends, they all made the experience stand out for her.
While reflecting on her time, she says, “If I could be less freaked out and more present in my high school years… it might be great.” She wishes she had lived more in the moment and appreciated the experiences and unique opportunities that high school presented, as opposed to worrying about assignments, college and her future. This is good advice for current students as we all try to embrace the present and everything Fieldston has to offer so that one day, we might be able to achieve success in our passions too.
