Disney Theatrical President Thomas Schumacher Will Transition To Chief Creative Officer
Thomas Schumacher, the longtime president and producer of Disney Theatrical Group is stepping down from his role overseeing the division’s business operations. He will now transition to the creative side of the organization as the chief creative officer.
Schumacher has been at Disney Theatrical since its inception and has been president of the group since 1999. During that time, Schumacher helped turn Disney Theatrical into a powerhouse on Broadway with productions including The Lion King and Aladdin.
In his new role, Schumacher will be given the same title that Jennifer Lee has at Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pete Docter at Pixar.
A Storied Career
Schumacher began his run at Disney Theatrical as executive vice president. In that role, he worked alongside Peter Schneider. At the time, Disney was making its first foray into Broadway with 1994’s Beauty and the Beast.
Initially, Schumacher was also working as president of Walt Disney Feature Animation. By 1999, he would become president of Disney Theatrical and eventually leave animation to solely focus on theater in 2002.
During his time with Disney Theatrical, Schumacher had a large role in choosing the projects that were right for theatrical adaptations. These productions have included Aida, Tarzan, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, Newsies, Frozen and Aladdin.
A Look at the Future
Disney currently has The Lion King and Aladdin running on Broadway, however, other projects including The Princess Bride and Hercules are reportedly in development.
The vacancy left by Schumacher’s exit from the business side of Disney Theatrical Group will be filled by his longtime deputies Andre Flatt and Anne Quart. Both will act as joint executive vice presidents.
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