Garth Drabinsky, Producer Convicted of Fraud, Prepping 'HARD TIMES' for Broadway?

The rumors are true -- stage producer Garth Drabinsky, who served time in Canada for fraud and forgery, is aiming for a Broadway comeback.

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier this year, Drabinsky was convicted for his shifty dealings while serving as head of Livent (one of North America's biggest live theatre companies in the '90s) and has been on the lookout for a new project to refresh his reputation.

Drabinsky was behind Broadway's RAGTIME, SHOW BOAT and KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, as well as THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA in Toronto.

The New York Post writes that the producer is out of jail and has just secured the rights to Studs Terkel's HARD TIMES: AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION and is looking to enlist AN AMERICAN IN PARIS director Christopher Wheeldon and book writer Craig Lucas. FELA!'s Bill T. Jones is also on the short list.

Drabinsky wants to use Depression-era tunes for the musical's score, including "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries", "We're in the Money" and "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?", to tell a story based on Terkel's 1970 novel following people from many socio-economic classes living during the Great Depression.

"He has no guilt," a source told the Post, referencing Drabinsky's past wrongdoing. "He thinks he didn't to anything wrong, and if the world thinks he did, well, he's done his time, and now he wants to get back to producing Broadway shows."

Despite the fact that Drabinsky served three years up north for his crimes, he was never extradited to the U.S. to be tried on some 16 counts of fraud and conspiracy. The Post writes that he is attempting to petition President Obama for a pardon. So his new 'HARD TIMES' musical hinges on whether Obama is feeling merciful.

What do you think? Would you go see a musical by Drabinsky? Will HARD TIMES work well on Broadway? Tell us in the comments below!