Overview
- Gersten, who died Monday after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer, spent more than three decades promoting shows on Broadway and Off-Broadway.
- He served as vice president of ATPAM, the union for theatrical press agents and managers, after joining in 1997 and later serving on its board.
- Through his boutique firm, David Gersten & Associates, he publicized hundreds of productions and events, including Waiting in the Wings, The Herbal Bed, and the 6,000th performance of A Chorus Line.
- Beyond publicity, he produced New York premieres such as Tea at Five and Shear Madness and helped found industry groups that support Off-Broadway and cabaret.
- A Fire Island volunteer firefighter and recent co-owner of the Theater District’s Ninth Avenue Saloon, he is being honored with suggested donations to Broadway Cares, the Entertainment Community Fund, and the Cherry Grove Fire Dept.