Who’s the boss?
There’s discord in Toronto as the infamous Garth Drabinsky tries to fire his orchestrator
T HINGS are getting tense up there in Toronto, where disgraced impresario Garth Drabinsky is plotting his comeback with the new musical “Sousatzka.”
Drabinsky’s temper was legendary during his Broadway heyday in the 1990s, when he produced “Ragtime” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” The other day, several production sources say, he lashed out at Jonathan
Tunick, the orchestrator he hired for the musical, based on the 1988 film with Shirley MacLaine. Frustrated by Tunick’s contractual demands, Drab- insky wheeled on him during a rehearsal and screamed, “Why am I paying you all this money?” The outburst silenced the room until Tunick stood up and said, “Because I’m one of the greatest orchestrators in the history of Broadway.” And then he walked out.
Tunick wasn’t being immodest. The musicals he’s orchestrated include “Company,” “Follies,” “A Chorus Line” and “Sweeney Todd.” He won an Emmy for “Night of 100 Stars,” a Grammy for
Cleo Laine’s song “No One Is Alone,” an Oscar for “A Little Night Music” and a Tony for “Titanic.”
Tunick, sources say, was prepared to leave “Sousatzka,” and Drabinsky was looking to replace him. But
Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire, who wrote the score, weren’t having it. They exercised a clause in their contract giving them approval over the orchestrator. They wanted Tunick and no one else. Drabinsky, sources say, was forced to apologize and meet Tunick’s demands.
“Nobody insults Jonathan like that,” a source says.
I tried to reach Drabinsky, but he was deep into rehearsals and couldn’t talk. Through a spokesman, he sent me his love and issued a statement: “Garth and Jonathan are making beautiful music together. There are no raised voices in the rehearsal room except for the wonderful sounds from [cast members] Victoria Clark, Montego Glover and Judy Kaye.” The spokesman also noted that Drabinsky isn’t paying anyone because he’s not allowed to handle any money. That’s because he went to jail for 17 months for fraud and forgery in connection with the collapse of his theatrical empire Livent in 1998. Something called Teatro Proscenium is financing “Sousatzka.” It’s an investment consortium that includes some of Drabinsky’s old pals, among them businessman Rick Chad. “Garth has no control over any money,” Richard Stursberg, the head of Teatro, recently told the Toronto Star.
But no one doubts Drabinsky’s in charge of “Sousatzka.” Sources say he’s even been courting some potential investors from New York.
He’s reportedly hoping to bring the show to Broadway next season. Alas, he can’t come with it. He’s still under indictment in the US, and if he strays over to the American side of Niagara Falls, they could clap him in irons.
In the meantime, he’s planning a splashy opening-night party for “Sousatzka” on March 23 at Toronto’s Elgin Theatre.
Dress code: stripes.