Gary McAvay, President of Columbia Artists Theatricals, passed away peacefully in his sleep February 10, 2022, in New York City.
Mr. McAvay was born July 20, 1953 in Bridgeport, Connecticut to Raymond H. McAvay and Betty Carter McAvay. He attended Daniel Hand High School in Madison, Connecticut, where his lifelong passion for the theatre was born. He received a BFA in Theatre and Film from Denison University, followed by an MFA in Theatre Arts Management at Brooklyn College, before landing an internship in 1980 in the mail room of Columbia Artists Management Inc. From there, he worked his way up to become president of Columbia Artists Theatricals, a highly regarded and internationally acclaimed theatrical management and booking organization.
Mr. McAvay arranged multiple contiguous and financially rewarding theatrical tours throughout North America and beyond. In his career spanning four decades, Mr. McAvay represented hundreds of titles and artists, including Cats, Stomp, Chicago, Annie, Carousel, Sunset Boulevard, Grease, and Starlight Express.
oMr. McAvay is survived by his partner Jann Simpson; son and daughter-in-law, Joshua and Erin McAvay; son, Benjamin McAvay; daughter, Haley McAvay; brother and sister-in law, Douglas and Pamela McAvay; sister and sister-in-law, Gail McAvay and Ruby Melton; and three grandchildren, named Sophie, Lilly, and Daniel McAvay. He was predeceased by his son, Eben McAvay.
