Livent won a temporary injunction against the executives of the Elgin Theatre in Toronto, which could affect the opening of the Canada production of the Tony-winning Broadway musical Rent. Granted by Mr. Justice Nicholson McRae of the Ontario Court, general division, the injunction prevents the Elgin Theatre from being rented to anyone else but Livent, effective Feb. 7, 1997. Livent is suing Elgin manager Richard Mortimer, and Ontario Heritage Foundation executive director Lesley Lewis for 'Conspiracy including Breach of Contract'. Livent is requesting damages to the tune of $11 million.
They claim that they have a firm booking for the Elgin, and in the meantime, Elgin executives have rented the space to Mirvish productions, who beat Livent to the Broadway award winning musical Rent. Livent also had plans, (if they had gotten the rights), to put Rent into the Elgin Theatre, but now wants the theatre to reprise its production of Joseph and the Amazing Techicolour Dreamcoat.
Round 3 is slated for July 8, 1996 when the whole thing goes to court.