Disney on Broadway

Walt Disney Theatrical Production, Ltd. (DTP) was formed on February 8, 1993, with Ron Logan, Disney Park's live production head, as president to produce Beauty and the Beast. Beauty and the Beast opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre on April 18, 1994. Disney Theatrical signed a 49-year revenue based lease for New Amsterdam Theatre in May 1995. The building was renovated by Disney Development Company. With The Lion King under consideration for the next Broadway adaption, Eisner ceded DTP to theatre-rooted Disney Animation president Peter Schneider and Thomas Schumacher, at their request, making them president and executive vice president of DTP respectively. In 1997, DTP re-opened the New Amsterdam Theatre with King David followed by The Lion King musical.

Peter Schneider was promoted to Disney Studios president in January 1999, while Thomas Schumacher was promoted to president of Walt Disney Feature Animation and Walt Disney Theatrical Productions, while both are made co-presidents of Disney Theatrical. On November 23, 1999, the corporate name was changed to Buena Vista Theatrical Group Limited, with Disney Theatrical Productions becoming a division of the group with the formation of Hyperion Theatricals in January 2000.

Schneider left Disney Theatrical in June 2001 to form his own theater production company partly funded by Disney. His first project was developing and directing the stage version of Sister Act with Michael Reno. The musical had its official world premiere on November 3, 2006, at the Pasadena Playhouse, with DTP as an associated presenter during its Broadway run.

In 2013, Disney Theatrical revealed that a show based on The Muppets was in exploratory development and that a 15-minute show had been conducted by Thomas Schumacher to evaluate the technical components. Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn in November 2013 created a deal for Disney Theatrical Productions to develop a The Princess Bride stage adaptation, possibly either a musical or play.

Freaky Friday musical was developed by Disney Theatrical Productions from the book and Disney films for theatres to license. The musical premiered in October 2016 at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia followed by three other theatre productions. Coinciding with the August 10, 2018 release of the Disney Theatrical Productions Disney Channel Original Movie adaptation, a one-act version of the stage musical (based on the adaptation) was made available for licensing.

Disney Theatrical Productions' Newsies debuted in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on February 19, 2017.

On September 28, 2023, Schumacher announced to the staff of Disney Theatrical Productions that he was taking a new role within the subsidiary as Chief Creative Officer. The day-to-day management over producing and development has shifted to former Senior Vice President, Anne Quart, who now holds the title of Executive Vice President and Executive Producer. The business operations of the subsidiary now rests with Andrew Flatt, who was also formerly a Senior Vice President. Flatt's new title is Executive Vice President and managing director.

In September 2025, Schumacher departed Disney Theatrical Productions after more than three decades with the company. Following his exit, Quart and Flatt were formally appointed to lead the organization as Executive Producer and managing director, respectively, marking a new leadership era for the division.

Upcoming productions

The Jungle Book

In 2011, Variety stated that there was an "Early-stages project [of] The Jungle Book, a tuner version (with songs from the film based on Rudyard Kipling's novel) to be written and directed by Mary Zimmerman (Metamorphoses)." A joint mounting of the production was set to occur at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago and the Huntington Theatre in Boston in 2013, produced by special arrangement with Disney Theatrical Productions. As of 2015, the entire show was in storage awaiting the 2016 live action film. On May 15, 2020, Rajiv Joseph was announced to be writing the book, while Richard M. Sherman wrote new songs. Christopher Gattelli was also reported to be directing and choreographing the musical.

Coco

On January 24, 2023, during Epcot's annual Disney on Broadway concert, The Lion King actor L. Steven Taylor announced that a live stage show adaptation of the film is currently in development.

Tangled

In February 2024, it was reported that Disney Theatrical Group is developing a new stage adaptation of the film, with a workshop underway.

Cancelled productions

Alice in Wonderland

In 2011, Disney Theatrical was in early talks with Tim Burton and screenwriter Linda Woolverton, to develop the 2010 film into a Broadway musical. Woolverton authored the screenplay for Disney's The Lion King and is also the Tony Award-nominated book writer of Beauty and the Beast, Aida, and Lestat. Burton was planned to also render the overall designs for the stage musical. Woolverton was planned to adapt her screenplay for the stage production. Neither a composer nor songwriter were publicly announced. Robert Jess Roth was set to helm the stage musical that would have choreography by Matt West. The duo also collaborated on Disney's first Broadway outing: Beauty and the Beast. No casting was announced. With no updates or announcements on the project in over a decade, this musical is presumably no longer in development.