Former Winnipeg Jewish Theatre GM embezzled $85K, say police
Man, 48, charged with forgery, theft over $5K after series of attempts to cover up embezzelment
The former artistic director at the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre has been charged with theft and forgery after police say he embezzled more than $85,000 over an seven-year period.
Michael Howard Nathanson, 48, who was also the theatre’s general manager, dealt directly with the company’s finances between January 2007 and February 2014. He was dismissed from the theatre last February.
Police said Nathanson allegedly exploited his access to theatre finances by embezzling thousands of dollars. It’s alleged he then repeatedly covered it up by forging documents to make the company’s books look like they were in order.
Nathanson, who has dual-nationality, left Winnipeg for Texas after the thefts were brought to the attention of investigators early last year.
Police issued a Manitoba-wide warrant in January. Nathanson was arrested on Friday when he re-entered the province.
He has been charged with theft over $5,000 and forgery. He remains in custody.
Their books are all in order and they are [about] to embrace this next phase of their existence.- Bob Metcalfe, PTE
The theatre hired new artistic director Ari Weinberg earlier this month.
Its board has declined to comment on Nathanson's arrest.
Others in the city's theatre community are supporting the theatre in the wake of the arrest.
Bob Metcalfe, artistic director of Prairie Theatre Exchange, says the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre plays a key role in the city's cultural life.
"Every arts organization is important and Winnipeg Jewish Theatre is one of the last surviving Jewish theatres in the country. There used to be many of them spread across the nation and [now] it's down to one or two," he said.
Metcalfe said the hope is a new chapter in the theatre's history is about to begin.
"It's important because of what it potentially will become with this new artistic director, this young Ari, and what he's going to do moving forward. And from what I understand, their books are all in order and they are [about] to embrace this next phase of their existence."