Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia
Drabinsky, Garth
Ontario -based entrepreneur, born in Toronto in 1948, was producer and chairman and CEO of Livent , one of Canada's biggest producers of live entertainment, specifically musical theatre .
He was striken with polio at three and underwent several operations. After receiving a law degree from University of Toronto, Mr. Drabinsky produced films and co-founded Cineplex Odeon Corporation which he helmed until 1989, and from there, in 1992, Livent.
Mr. Drabinsky was also instrumental in the renovation of historic theatres in New York (Apollo), Toronto (Pantages) and Chicago (Oriental Theatre).
Under him, Livent presented productions that won awards in Canada and the United States and helped to make Toronto into Broadway North. Among the shows were Phantom of the Opera, Kiss of the Spider Woman, the revival of Showboat, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Aspects of Love and the musical adaptation of EL Doctorow's Ragtime. In 1998, Mr. Drabinsky gave over the reigns of Livent to Hollywood super-agent Michael Ovitz (more recently of the Disney empire) and ran the theatre section exclusively.
However, in August, 1998, just as Fosse: A Celebration in Song and Dance opened in Toronto, Livent suspended Mr. Drabinsky following allegations of "serious irregularities" in the company's bookkeeping. The final chapter of the Livent/Drabinsky relationship is still being written with both sides launching lawsuits against each other.
On January 13, 1999, Mr. Drabinsky received 16 indictments in the US, filed by the US Justice Department (notably for federal securities fraud). He also faces possible indictments by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. His response to the indictments was, "The final act of this tragedy has yet to be played out." He did not surrender to custody in the United States and remains in Canada.
In June, 1999, Fosse won several of Broadway's Tony Awards. In June, 2000, Mr. Drabinsky announced that he was producing Athol Fugard's The Island for the Toronto 2000/2001 season.
Last updated 2009-03-30
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