Garth Drabinsky sets 'Madame Sousatzka' musical for his Broadway comeback

Disgraced producerGarth Drabinsky,who served time in prison for fraud and forgery,is plotting his Broadway comeback.

The vehicle is amusical based on the 1988 Shirley MacLaine film Madame Sousatzka.

Drabinsky said Wednesday the show Sousatzkahas songs by the composer-lyricist team of David Shire and Richard Maltby Jr., whose Broadway shows include 1996's Big.

It will star Tony Award-winner Victoria Clark, Tony-nominee Montego Glover and Tony-winner Judy Kaye.

The new musical's story charts the relationship between an eccentric London-based piano teacher and her pupil, a 15-year-old boy of exceptional talent.

The musical will be directed by Adrian Noble and has a book by Craig Lucas, who wrote the story for An American in Paris.

Because of Mr. Drabinsky's history, the production's financing will be raised and managed by an entity called Teatro Proscenium Limited Partnership, which named as its chief executive Richard Stursberg, a former executive vice president of the CBC.

"My association with Garth has proven itself to be one of the most satisfying and enduring creative relationships I've ever had, and I look forward to ensuring that he has every resource available to get this inspired show to Broadway, and beyond,"Stursbergsaid in a statement.

The musical is to begin previews Feb. 25 at the Elgin Theater in Toronto, to open March 23 and to close April 9; the producers say they plan to transfer to Broadway in October 2017.