The Buena Vista Theatrical Group Overview

Buena Vista Theatrical Group ("BVTG") was formed in 1993 and operates under the direction of Peter Schneider and Thomas Schumacher. The company's inaugural production, Beauty and the Beast, now in its seventh year on Broadway, can also be seen in Stuttgart, Madrid, and touring throughout North America. In May 1997, The Walt Disney Company completed restoration of the historic New Amsterdam Theatre on 42nd Street, reopening with the world premiere concert of Alan Menken and Tim Rice's King David, directed by the late Mike Ockrent. In November of the same year, the company opened The Lion King, which became the recipient of six 1998 Tony® Awards, including Best Musical, as well as the 1999 GRAMMY® Award for Best Musical Show Album. Now in its third sold out year on Broadway, The Lion King can also currently be seen onstage in Tokyo, Osaka, London, Toronto and Los Angeles. In June 1999, the company premiered its first new musical outside of the United States when Der Gl�ckner Von Notre Dame opened in Berlin. An adaptation of the Disney film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the show continues in its second year. The company's most recent production, Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida, opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre in March 2000, receiving four 2000 Tony® Awards, including Best Music/Lyrics.