Thomas Schumacher: “Spain is a perfect place to bring something as passionate and frankly as artful as THE LION KING”

Since 1988, Thomas Schumacher has worked with The Walt Disney Company. Currently, he serves as President of Disney Theatrical Group where he oversees the development, creation and execution of all Disney live entertainment around the globe including Broadway, touring and licensed productions. His Broadway, West End, touring and international production credits include BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, KING DAVID, THE LION KING, DER GLOCKNER VON NOTRE DAME, AIDA, ON THE RECORD, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, TARZAN, MARY POPPINS and THE LITTLE MERMAID along with several new projects currently in development.

He admits loving Spanish culture and even talks the language, being helped by his wife, who knows perfectly the Spanish and who is always at his side helping him with translations. Mr. Schumacher was in Madrid last 2nd March presenting the Spanish production of THE LION KING, that will open at Teatro Lope de Vega on 21st October 2011.

Thomas Schumacher is an extremely kind men who can’t help showing his passion for his work. He admits that he still cries when watching a performance of THE LION KING. After the press launch, we talked briefly with Mr Schumacher, who told us about his love for THE LION KING and about his new projects.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BRING ‘THE LION KING’ TO SPAIN?
The great joy of THE LION KING has been taking it around the world both as a movie and now, of course, for the last 14 years, as a stage play. But for me particularly to bring it to Spain… I have a great passion for things Spanish and particularly for this country because this country has two fundamental elements: extraordinary passion and extraordinary art it. This makes it a perfect place to bring something as passionate and frankly as artful as THE LION KING; so that to me means a great deal.

WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD FEEL MOVED BY THE SHOW?
We just played a video at this presentation and I must admit I get emotional watching the video. It’s because everybody here was seeing it for the first time. When I look at the video I see friends of mine performing but I also see this creation by Julie Taymor. What Julie created with THE LION KING is so extraordinary because she came up with the stage concept, she wrote the lyrics to some of the songs, she designed the costumes, she co-designed all these exclusive puppets and mask, she literally sculpted them with her own hands and of course she mounted the production. And so I see this extraordinary creation that she did… When we created the show at the beginning no one had any faith in it, no one believed it would be successful and that for me always makes it more awesome because it had no anticipation, no one was excited about it and what Julie created has been as honest and as truthful and as passionate around the world as it has been in New York.

HAVEN’T YOU EVER GOTTEN TIRED OF WATCHING ‘THE LION KING’ AFTER SO MANY YEARS?
Shockingly I do not get tired of it. I was at the production of Germany two weeks ago and I cried at the opening because these actors were so committed and so truthful and played it so beautifully in a language I don’t know. I don’t speak a bit of German and yet I know every line and feel it and that audience is having an authentic experience. They’re not watching something American translated, because when you watch THE LION KING you’re seeing the work of Julie Taymor who has spend half of her life abroad, you’re seeing the work of Lebo M who is African,  you’re seeing and hearing the work by Elton John and Tim Rice who are British and you’re hearing the music by Hans Zimmer who is German, you’re seeing the set by Richard Hudson who is from Zimbabwe. You’re seeing and hearing work by artists around the world that’s why I think the world gathers around THE LION KING.

HOW WILL YOU BE INVOLVED IN THIS SPANISH PRODUCTION?
We have a team people who travel all over the world. We create and train a resident team. Our team comes and oversees everything, from every stitch on every custom, to exactly how it is painted or how it is performed and we teach the local team.

COULD YOU TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT FUTURE DISNEY THEATRICAL PROJECTS?
I have four big Broadway shows that are coming. I’m working on a new version of THE LITTLE MERMAID, I’m also working on a new version of ALADDIN with Alan Menken that we’re going to try out this Summer in the stage. We are also turning a very popular American movie called NEWSIES into a stage production. It will come to the stage this Fall. And I’m also working on DUMBO with Stephen Daldry from BILLY ELLIOT. That’s all I can tell you. There are a lot of more projects but I can’t say them loud yet.