Throughout the 1990s, Livent, Inc was the only publicly owned company whose primary line of business was live theatrical productions. Livent's co-founder and the individual recognized as the creative genius responsible for the company's impressive string of Tony Award-winning shows was Garth Drabinsky.
After carefully weighing the challenges, opportunities, and potential drawbacks of making the job change, Messina gave up the partnership position with Deloitte & Touche that she had coveted for years in exchange for a back office but high-paying and high-profit position in the glitzy and glamorous world of show business.