Thomas Schumacher

Infobox Person
name = Thomas Schumacher


caption =
birth_date =
birth_place =
birth_name = Thomas Schumacher
known_for =
occupation = Producer

Thomas Schumacher is a theatrical producer, currently president of Disney Theatrical Group [cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00E3DA123FF930A15756C0A9629C8B63&scp=7&sq=&st=nyt|title=The Tony Awards |publisher=New York Times |date=2004-05-23 |accessdate=2008-02-05] , the theatrical production arm of The Walt Disney Company.

Biography

Schumacher studied theatre at UCLA. In 1987 he was associate director of the Los Angeles Festival of Arts, and he joined the Disney Company in 1988, producing the animated film, "The Rescuers Down Under" (released 1990). He was executive producer on the 1994 animated film, "The Lion King". [cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E04E0D81E38F934A35752C1A960958260&scp=1&sq=Disney+%27King%27+For+42d+Street%3A+No+Lion+Suits&st=nyt|title= Disney "King" For 42d Street: No Lion Suits |publisher=New York Times |date=1996-11-7 |accessdate=2008-02-05] In 1999 he became head of Feature Animation and Theatrical Productions, resigning from animation in 2002 [cite news|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/230316251.html?dids=230316251:230316251&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+2%2C+2002&author=Claudia+Eller+and+Richard+Verrier&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&edition=&startpage=C.1&desc=Disney+Animation+Chief+to+Step+Down%3B+Thomas+Schumacher+has+headed+the+division+for+nearly+four+years%2C+during+which+box-office+results+were+mixed+and+there+were+heavy+layoffs.|title=Disney Animation Chief to Step Down |publisher=Los Angeles Times |date=2002-11-02 |accessdate=2008-02-05] .

Theatrical productions

Since becoming president of Disney Theatrical Group, Schumacher has produced a number of Broadway shows. His productions include a concert performance of Alan Menken and Tim Rice’s "King David" in 1997; the Broadway production of "The Lion King" in 1997; a German musical adaptation of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", entitled "Der Glöckner von Notre Dame", which debuted in Berlin, Germany in 1999; Elton John and Tim Rice’s "Aida" in 2000, "Mary Poppins" in 2004 [cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre/features/the-men-behind-mary-680611.html|title= The Men behind Mary |publisher=The Independent |date=2004-12-09 |accessdate=2008-02-05] [cite news|url=http://search.ft.com/ftArticle?sortBy=gadatearticle&queryText=The+Man+Playing+Nanny+to+Mary+Poppins&y=0&aje=true&x=0&id=041202001022&ct=0|title= The man playing nanny to Mary Poppins |publisher=Financial Times |date=2004-12-02 |accessdate=2008-02-05] , and "Tarzan" in 2006. His production of "The Little Mermaid" opened on Broadway January 10, 2008.

In his role as President of Disney Theatrical Group, Schumacher also produced the touring musical, "On the Record", a revue featuring songs spanning the entire Disney catalogue.

Thomas Schumacher supervises Disney Live Family Entertainment, which is responsible for producing Disney’s various ice shows as well as the Disney Live! Brand of touring shows, which are interactive theatrical productions aimed at young children.

Publication

Schumacher has written an interactive picture book, "How Does the Show Go On? An Introduction to the Theatre" (Disney Publications, 2007). ISBN 1423100883.

References

External links

*Thomas Schumacher in the [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0776665/ Internet Movie Database] .