Aladdin is one of the most beloved animated movies of all time - and now, it's one of the biggest musicals in the world.

The production launched on Broadway in 2014, and has quickly gone around the globe.

The production is the brain child of Thomas Schumacher, Walt Disney’s President of Theatrical and has been a key figure at Disney for the past three decades.

Before joining the theatrical side of the business, Thomas oversaw some of our most loved films – The Lion King, Pocahontas, Mulan and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

He visited New Zealand ahead of the musical's New Zealand premiere in Auckland on January 3rd.

Schumacher joined Francesca Rudkin to talk Disney, musicals and the power of theatre.

WATCH THE INTERVIEW ABOVE