Thread by @Variety

#ParadiseSquare has been overshadowed by a series of lawsuits & allegations that producer Garth H. Drabinsky cut corners, engaged in tyrannical behavior and failed to pay bills & benefits.

Variety's @rebeccaarubin, @GeneMaddaus & @BrentALang investigate: bit.ly/3AYbAow

“The show was never correctly budgeted,” says Karyn Meek, the show’s former production stage manager, who resigned in May over conflicts about salary concerns. “In my opinion, Garth felt by cutting back on labor, he could do the show more cheaply." bit.ly/3AYbAow

Drabinsky is now facing lawsuits regarding unpaid health, pension and 401(k) contributions. Actors’ Equity alleged the show has failed to pay $190,000. The union also said Thursday it would add Drabinsky to its “Do Not Work” list. bit.ly/3AYbAow

In a lengthy statement to Variety, Drabinsky stressed that the actors have received their salaries, which are bonded, and said the production has already consented to judgments for the other expenses.

bit.ly/3AYbAow

For Drabinsky, the Tony Award-winning producer of “Fosse” and “Ragtime,” “Paradise Square” was intended to be a comeback following his 2009 conviction in Canada for fraud and forgery and 17-month stint in prison. bit.ly/3AYbAow

“This is a small industry so the stories about Garth were certainly out there,” says Scott Mallalieu, who is suing the production for unpaid wages and for reneging on his contract to handle group sales. bit.ly/3AYbAow

One member of the crew, who identifies as non-binary, lost their pinky finger in an accident during a rehearsal. They were climbing up a ladder on the set, when they lost their footing and fell, according to two members of the production. bit.ly/3AYbAow

The severed finger could not be reattached. The person received a modest workers’ compensation payout & has since left the industry. They believe the incident was at least partly the result of “how emotionally & physically unsafe" the process was. bit.ly/3AYbAow

“When something doesn’t go Garth’s way, he throws a tantrum,” says a member of the Broadway ensemble who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retribution. “It’s really nasty. He bullies the creatives.” bit.ly/3AYbAow

Drabinsky disputed that he had engaged in toxic behavior.

“There was no continued pattern of abuse and neglect that created any unsafe or toxic work environment,” he said. bit.ly/3AYbAow