David R. Fay

David R. Fay took over as President and Chief Executive Officer of The Bushnell in June 2001. He is responsible for the execution of policy, the operation of The Bushnell’s facilities and programs and management of its more than $20 million annual operating activity.

Previously, Fay was President of the Canadian Producing Division of SFX Theatrical Group and Executive Director of the Pantages Theatre in Toronto. Fay also spent 15 years as the President and CEO of Fox Associates in St. Louis, Missouri. Under his leadership, the private partnership grew from a company operating a single theater (Fox Theatre) that was losing money, to a diversified entertainment company with multiple venues in St. Louis (The Fox Theatre and the St. Charles Family Arena) and Chicago (the Briar Street Theatre and The Cadillac Palace Theatre). He also formed Fox Theatricals, which produced shows on and off-Broadway, some of which toured nationally, including Jekyll and Hyde and Death of a Salesman (Tony Award for Best Play, 1999).

From 1980-1985, Fay was executive director of the Will County Exposition and Auditorium Authority in Joliet, Illinois. He directed the renovation of the historic Rialto Square Theatre and led the redevelopment of 150,000 square feet of office and commercial space adjacent to the theater. The project spurred the eventual redevelopment of downtown Joliet.

Fay has also served as Chairman of the Fine Arts Department and Director of the Weinstein Center for the Performing Arts at the National College of Education in Evanston, Illinois. Fay has a master’s degree in Theater Arts from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. A resident of Cromwell, Fay is currently on the Board of Corporators of Hartford Hospital.