A look behind the curtain of ‘The Lion King’

The infamous Disney Theatrical President, Thomas Schumacher, joined us at Build to celebrate and discuss the 20th Anniversary of "The Lion King" Broadway show.

Laura Heywood, also known as Broadway Girl NYC, moderated the conversation with Schumacher as actor, Stephen Carlile, transformed into "Scar" from makeup to costume right in front of our eyes.

"Stephen Carlile, who plays 'Scar' on Broadway - you can see him 8 times a week, actually doesn't look like 'Scar' in real life," Schumacher said.

In addition to the "Scar" makeover, throughout the interview, Schumacher gave us a peek behind the curtain of "The Lion King" speaking on the initial development of the show on stage and the progression of the performance over time.

"I said it was the worst idea I ever heard. It's a film with music. And it's so cinematic," Schumacher admitted at the first pitch for "The Lion King" on Broadway, "I called Julie Taymor and everything changed."

After the decision to collaborate with Taymor as the director "The Lion King" began to fall into place, "She came to talk about narrative. Why was the film so honoring the patriarchy when really lions don't do anything and lionesses do everything?"

"The Lion King" was always ahead of the curve in the entertainment world as the production always showed a commitment to diversity since it opened in 1997.

"The power of the South African choral style was what first influenced it ... We realized it wasn't just the sound ... but it's the spirit and the soul of South Africa. And this is what happened when these glorious South African company members joined us in the original cast ... We had to do a great deal of petitioning ... within our community so we can always keep a contingent of South Africans," reveals Schumacher.

As the interview neared an end, Carlile's transformation was complete. He swiftly lurked across the Build stage with a seductive, evil energy as "Scar".

"I'm a man, I'm an actor, but you use everything to tell the story," Carlile smiled.

"The Lion King" is a Broadway masterpiece whose legacy has extended for twenty years on the Broadway stage with a true dedication to theatre.

"The technology of the show is actually something that could have been done with stage machinery from a hundred years ago. And I think that basic timelessness that things feel like they are painted, it feels like it has always existed – I think that somehow makes it last," Schumacher sums up.

"The Lion King" is on Broadway now at the Minskoff Theatre in New York City and various theatres around the world.