Thomas Schumacher studied drama at the University of California in Los Angeles, and spent five years on staff at the Los Angeles Music Center's Mark Taper Forum, one of the west coast's most respected theatre companies, where he worked on more than 25 productions for the Taper Mainstage, Taper Too (the Forum's second stage) and the Taper's literary cabaret.

In 1984 he worked for the Olympic arts festival. As co-founder and associate director of the acclaimed 1987 Los Angeles Festival of Arts, he was instrumental in presenting the American premiere of Canada's immensely popular Cirque du Soleil. He also served as assistant general manager of the Los Angeles Ballet. Additionally, he produced three original productions for the Improvisational Theater Project, the theater's touring program for young audiences.

Tom, openly gay, joined Walt Disney Feature Animation in 1988 to produce the animated feature The Rescuers Down Under (1990), then served as executive producer on Disney's 1994 animated blockbuster, The Lion King, which became the most successful release in Disney history and one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Following the completion of The Lion King, Tom was elevated to the role of executive vice president of Feature Animation and Theatrical Productions, a post he held through 1998.

Along with Walt Disney Studios chairman Peter Schneider, he produced the world premiere of the Broadway musical The Lion King, which garnered six 1998 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Their latest musical, Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida, opened at the Palace Theatre on Broadway in March 2000, winning the praise of audiences and 4 Tony Awards.

They have also supervised the ongoing development of an ambitious slate of Broadway-bound stage projects, including The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which debuted in Berlin, as well as overseeing the recent restoration of the historic New Amsterdam Theater.

Choosen as president of Walt Disney Feature Animation, Walt Disney Television Animation and Buena Vista Theatrical Group, Tom is regarded as one of the key architects of the animation renaissance in which Disney has set new standards in storytelling, artistry and technical innovation.

Tom supervises the development and production of all animated features, Disney Video Premieres and television projects for the studio, including such recent films as Dinosaur, Toy Story, Tarzan, A Bug's Life, Mulan, Hercules, Toy Story 2 and Pocahontas, as well as the studio's slate of upcoming projects.

Tom currently serves on both the Education Council and the Presentations Committee of the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County, as well as the board of directors of the Rachel Rosenthal Company.