Thomas Schumacher

Producer for Disney Theatrical Productions

Disney Theatrical Productions operates under the direction of Thomas Schumacher and is among the world’s most successful commercial theatre producers. Worldwide, its 10 Broadway titles have been seen by over 200 million theatregoers and have been nominated for 60 Tony Awards, winning Broadway’s highest honour 20 times. A division of The Walt Disney Studios, DTP produces and licenses Broadway productions around the world, including Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aida, Mary Poppins, Tarzan, The Little Mermaid, Peter and the Starcatcher, Newsies, Aladdin and Frozen. UK credits include Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and Mary Poppins in the West End and on tour; the Olivier-nominated Shakespeare in Love and Aladdin in the West End; and High School Musical on tour. Frozen, its latest Broadway hit, opens in the West End next year. Other successful stage musical ventures have included the Der Glöckner Von Notre Dame in Berlin and King David in concert. DTP has collaborated with pre-eminent theatres across the US and around the world to develop new stage titles, including The Jungle Book, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Freaky Friday, Pinocchio and Hercules. As a part of the recent acquisition of 21st Century Fox, DTP also heads the Buena Vista Theatrical banner which licenses Fox titles for stage adaptations including Anastasia, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Mrs Doubtfire and The Devil Wears Prada. With 20 productions currently produced or licensed by DTP, a Disney musical is being performed professionally somewhere on the planet virtually every hour of the day. Thomas Schumacher began his Disney career at Walt Disney Feature Animation and was ultimately named President of the division, overseeing some 21 animated features, and working closely with Pixar on their first five films. He is the author of How Does the Show Go On? An Introduction to the Theater, and is a member of numerous boards, including serving as Chairman of The Broadway League.