Crabtree, who was born in Excelsior Springs, Mo., began his show business career as a dancer and turned to costume design before trying his hand at musicals. His first effort, a cabaret show called "Howard and Drew Meet the Invisible Man," was produced in 1987. "Whatnot," a show he wrote with Mark Waldrop and Dick Gallagher, was produced Off Broadway in 1990.

He was also the star and the creator, with Mr. Waldrop, of the 1993 Off Broadway musical "Howard Crabtree's Whoop-Dee-Doo!," for which he designed the costumes. Howard Crabtree was a talented costumer who called his innovative costumes as "Disney on drugs". His last work was the gay-themed musical revue Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly, one of the highlights of Broadway in 1996. He passed away of AIDS related complications.

He was survived by his lover, Daniel Gates who said of him: "Howard could do anything, but everything he did was one of a kind."