With Michael Nathanson’s guilty plea to a charge of forgery and partial restitution of the funds he stole, the board of directors of the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre (WJT) has some closure on a sorry chapter in the 27-year-old theatre’s history that almost put it out of business.
In the aftermath of his Sept. 2 sentencing, the board said it was “satisfied that justice has been served. While some restitution was made to the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, it was by no means made whole.”
It added: “Our focus now is on the business of the theatre and its bright future under its new artistic director,” referring to former Torontonian Ari Weinberg, who was hired last spring.
The WJT hired budding playwright Nathanson as its artistic director and general manager in 2007. In February 2014, it fired him ahead of a police investigation into allegations he had embezzled thousands of dollars from the theatre. It was further alleged he covered up his crime by forging documents to make the WJT’s accounts look like they were in order.
As a result of the thefts, the WJT was forced to cancel its last production of the 2013-2014 season and shut down operations for several months.
While its future was in serious doubt, a team of volunteers with community support were able to dig out of the financial hole and move forward.
Following his exposure, Nathanson, a dual Canadian-American citizen, fled the country, resettling in Texas, where he has family. He was arrested in March when he returned to Winnipeg to see his children.
In court, Nathanson, 49, admitted to stealing $65,000 from the non-profit WJT. According to a Sept. 3 report in the Winnipeg Free Press, Crown attorney Peter Edgett described how Nathanson had authority over all financial matters, including signing cheques, payroll and financial statements. Over the course of nearly seven years, he began using theatre credit and debit cards to make personal purchases, which he then covered up in financial statements. He also made bank withdrawals that were also hidden.
His embezzlement was exposed when several cheques to actors began to bounce. He reportedly blamed depression, the collapse of his marriage and related financial issues for his actions.
His lawyer, Richard Wolson, told the court his client is undergoing counselling and is” “trying to give back to the community and help others. He is absolutely remorseful,” the Free Press reported.
Nathanson reportedly made a tearful apology to the theatre, former co-workers and his family and friends. He was given a one-year conditional sentence after pleading guilty to uttering forged documents. He also presented a cheque for $65,000 of the missing money, which the board says is only partial restitution.
Nathanson’s conditional sentence includes a nightly curfew of 9 p.m. and an order to abstain from drugs and alcohol.
