SOUSATZKA Producer Dodges Tough Questions About Shady Past at Press Event

The Daily Globe and Mail reports that, at a recent press event producer Garth Drabinsky tried hard to downplay his questionable past and convince the press that he "still had the magic" while introducing a selection of musical numbers numbers from his latest endeavor Sousatzka.

While discussing his experience in producing, Mr. Drabinsky spoke very little of the financial ruin of the his Livent Production Company, instead choosing to note that the day of the presentation was 20 years to the day since his last original musical produced in Toronto, Ragtime, had its world premiere.

Drabinsky was never extradited to the United States and the charges relating to 16 counts of fraud and conspiracy have not been tested in the American courts.

In an interview following the presentation, it is reported that Drabinsky wouldn't address questions about his legal troubles involving fraud and forgery or the the lengthy prison sentence he served as a result.

"I'm here to talk about Sousatzka; I'm here to talk about producing and creativity," the disgraced impresario told the Globe and Mail. "There's been enough written about my past - I never walked away from my past. The history is written and we move forward."

While many remain cautious about Drabinsky being given the reins to a major Broadway musical, in light of his past, several members of the theatre community have stepped forward in support, including the musical's slated star, Tony Winner Victoria Clark. "It does make you pause, I'm not going to lie," the Broadway star revealed, but she went on to express her faith in the power of change: "You think, 'Oh, he's had this history and this is probably something we should think about for a minute.' But I also believe people can change and they can learn from mistakes and it's important for us to see people for who they are in the present tense and appreciate them for not just for their triumphs but for their mistakes."

The novel MADAME Sousatzka, upon which the new musical Sousatzka is based, centers on a renowned Russian piano teacher, Irina Sousatzka, who gets a new student -- Bengali piano prodigy Manek. The pair quickly forms a bond over their immigrant backgrounds.

Following a stop at Toronto's Elgin Theatre from February 25th through April 9th, the show is expected to make its way to New York next October at a yet unannounced Broadway theater.