Thomas Schumacher News

The Lion King has announced that longtime cast member Mduduzi Madela will assume the role of Simba beginning Tuesday, February 24. Learn more about him here!

The 1/52 Project has opened applications for its 2026 grant cycle supporting early-career theatre designers from historically excluded groups. Founded by Beowulf Boritt, the OBIE Award-winning program provides financial grants of up to $17,500.

BTC will honor Academy Award-nominated Actor, Producer, Author Taraji P. Henson; Tony Award-winning Producer and Author Thomas Schumacher and more at their 2026 gala.

Aladdin has announced that Rodney Ingram will step into the title role beginning Tuesday, February 3. Ainsley Melham will play his final performance Sunday, February 1. 

The current BEAUTY AND THE BEAST tour is a celebration of the Broadway musical’s 30th anniversary, and a chance for director and choreographer Matt West and book writer Linda Woolverton to revisit a stage version they have been working on since it all began in Houston during 1993.

The North American tour of Disney’s The Lion King will welcome Zama Magudulela as Rafiki. Magudulela will begin performances on Tuesday, January 13 in Sacramento at the Safe Credit Union Performing Arts Center.

In honor of the Aida’s 25th anniversary, BroadwayWorld spoke to stars Heather Headley (Aida), Adam Pascal (Radames), Sherie Rene Scott (Amneris), Schele Williams (Nehebka), as Thomas Schumacher (original producer and Disney Theatrical Group chief for its first three decades), lyricist Tim Rice, and book writer David Henry Hwang to compile an oral history of the show’s early days, transition to Broadway, and legacy beyond the boards.

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is November 17, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed over the weekend.

Disney Theatrical Group and Playhouse Square will offer a sensory-friendly performance of Disney’s The Lion King in the KeyBank State Theatre at Playhouse Square.

Disney’s The Lion King is coming to The Paramount Theatre stage.

On Tuesday, the cast of Disney's Aladdin, led by Ainsley Melham, Sonya Balsara, and Marcus Martin, took the stage on Live with Kelly and Mark for a performance of 'A Whole New World.' Check out the performance now.

Tickets for the long-awaited return of Disney’s The Lion King at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) will go on sale Friday, November 14, 2025, at 10 a.m.

On Thursday, the cast of Disney's Aladdin, one of the longest-running Broadway shows, took the stage for a magical performance of 'Friend Like Me.' Check it out now!

By popular demand, Disney's The Lion King will return to Cleveland for the first time since October 2021. Learn more about the production and see how to purchase tickets here!

We're falling into fall with a great Broadway read! This season, Broadway's best have put pen to paper to turn out theatre page-turners of every kind. From theatre biographies to theatre fiction; theatre books for kids to theatre history; check out our collection of 25 new Broadway books for every theatre lover's Fall 2025 reading list.

Disney's THE LION KING runs at Cadillac Palace Theatre until October 19. Get ticket info and details about this must-see Chicago show!

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast will enchant audiences in Kansas City when it arrives at Music Hall October 28–November 2, 2025. The beloved Broadway classic will star Kyra Belle Johnson as Belle and Fergie L. Philippe as the Beast.

The Lion King celebrated its 11,000th performance on Broadway over the weekend at the matinee on Saturday, September 20th. See footage here and learn more about The Lion King.

Theatre Aspen has revealed the two grant recipients from the 2025 Solo Flights Project Advancement Fund. Learn more about the recipients and about the Fund here!

We recently asked our audience a few different questions in our regular newsletter - the first, asking how many live events they attend in a month. With options of 0-1, 2-3, 4-5, and 5+, our audience reported that they fall nearly evenly across the spectrum - indicating that the BroadwayWorld audience is an excellent cross-section of the casual theatergoer and the highly committed fan.