Disney Theatrical

DISNEY THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS HISTORY

 

DISNEY THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS, a unit of BUENA VISTA THEATRICAL GROUP, was formed in 1994 and operates under the direction of Thomas Schumacher. The company's inaugural production, Beauty & The Beast, is currently the sixth longest-running show in Broadway history. 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 & Tim Rice's King David. Later that same year, Disney opened The Lion King, which received six 1998 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, as well as the 1998 GRAMMY® Award for Best Musical Show Album. Now in its ninth sold-out year on Broadway, The Lion King can also currently be seen onstage in London, Amsterdam, Melbourne, Hamburg, Tokyo, Nagoya and two touring companies throughout the U.S. In June 1999, Disney premiered its first new musical outside the United States when Der Glöckner Von Notre Dame, an adaptation of the Disney film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, opened in Berlin. Elton John & Tim Rice's Aida, which opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre in March 2000, ended its triumphant four-and-a-half year run on Broadway in September 2004. Aida received four 2000 Tony Awards® including Best Music/Lyrics and the 2000 GRAMMY® Award for Best Musical Show Album. Aida can also be seen in Seoul, South Korea, and Munich, Germany. On The Record, a new musical celebrating Disney's catalogue of beloved songs, launched a U.S. national tour in November 2004, visiting 24 cities over the following nine months. Mary Poppins, in partnership with Cameron Mackintosh, is now playing at London's Prince Edward Theatre. Disney's newest musical, TARZAN®, will have its world premiere at Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre in May 2006. Projects currently in development include The Little Mermaid with direction by Francesca Zambello and music by Alan Menken.

Beauty and the Beast photo: Original UK Touring Cast, © Catherine Ashmore; Lion King photo: Moe Daniels and Clifton Oliver, Los Angeles production, © Joan Marcus; Aida photo: Simone and Adam Pascal, current New York cast, © Joan Marcus