Disney’s longtime Broadway chief Thomas Schumacher steps down

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It was announced on Wednesday that Thomas Schumacher, a longstanding executive instrumental to The Walt Disney Company’s achievements on Broadway, will be leaving his position this month.

For nearly four decades, an animator has been a part of Disney, initially spearheading their animation division and later fostering its growth into a theatrical unit. Over time, he played a crucial role in launching renowned productions such as “The Lion King,” “Aladdin,” and “Beauty and the Beast.

In a company-wide email, Disney Entertainment’s Co-Chairman Alan Bergman announced that Thomas Schumacher, the creative head of Disney Theatrical Group, is leaving the company. According to Bergman, this departure marks the end of an era. Schumacher played a crucial role in establishing Disney’s stage business from its early stages.

Over time, Disney Theatrical Group has become a significant element in our global storytelling endeavors, as stated by Bergman. He further emphasized that the group continues to be managed effectively.

The managing director, Andrew Flatt, and the executive producer, Anne Quart – both associates of Schumacher – are set to take on expanded roles in their respective positions.

In simpler terms, Quart is responsible for managing the artistic and technical aspects of the theater performances, while Flatt focuses on strategic planning and business management for the shows. Both of them will remain under the supervision of Cathleen Taff, who heads the studio’s division dealing with distribution and audience understanding.

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Bergman mentioned in his email that I encountered Tom around the year he was preparing to debut The Lion King on Broadway in 1997, marking his first show on the stage. Since then, it has become the highest-grossing single entertainment property at the box office with over 30 productions, earning 20 Tony Awards, 28,000 performances on Broadway, and a total audience of 240 million people worldwide, with Disney shows on every continent other than Antarctica.

Bergman announced that Schumacher is not finished yet and will take up a consulting role to further influence the global theater scene, focusing on nurturing the upcoming generation of artists and audiences.

In the 1980s, Schumacher began his tenure at Disney’s animation division, serving as a producer for “The Rescuers Down Under.” Subsequently, he assumed the role of president of the animation studio and managed nearly two dozen films, concurrently heading the Disney Theatrical Group. In 2002, he decided to leave Disney Animation to dedicate his efforts exclusively to developing the theatrical group.

Peter Schneider from Disney Animation asked me to create ‘The Rescuers Down Under’. Little did I know this project would set off a 40-year journey collaborating with some of the most remarkable creative talents globally, spanning both animation and theatre. This is what Schumacher shared in his statement.

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Instead of choosing venues like Shubert, Disney opts for a location in Hollywood to debut its hit Broadway show in Los Angeles. The plan is to launch the musical in October 2000, with ticket sales starting as early as April.

His tenure came with controversy.

In 2018, an article published by The Wall Street Journal portrayed him as being stern, aggressive, and prone to inappropriate conduct at work with explicit language and actions. When this report surfaced, a Disney representative stated that they take such complaints seriously and respond appropriately with thorough investigations.

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2025-09-03 20:31