Tony Award-nominated Peter and the Starcatcher and Jersey Boys author Rick Elice, who was in attendance, penned a Dec. 29 piece for the Huffington Post capturing the events of the surprise Nov. 24 ceremony that took place in front of a small gathering of friends and family in upstate New York. His account represents the first announcement of the union.
According Elice's account, Schumacher and White host an annual Christmas gathering at their home, but opted for different plans this year. Guests were not informed that a wedding would take place.
"Dear ones – Since Christmas has been cancelled, let's do Thanksgiving instead," read a letter to friends last fall. "Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, to be precise. You must come. Must, as in you're coming. 'No' is not an option. Fun and games and the whole gang. November 24th. Be there."
Tony Award-nominated Aida, The Little Mermaid and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown star Sherie Rene Scott officiated the ceremony, which captured the delighted guests off guard. Elice and his partner, Tony-winner Roger Rees, were also in attendance, along with Scott's husband, Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records president Kurt Deutsch and their son, Eli, O&M president Rick Miramontez, performer Cathy Grier, and Disney Theatricals's former senior vice president Michele Steckler.
The ceremony closed with two rousing choruses of "Zippity Doo-Dah." White is a partner in the renowned interior design firm White Webb. Schumacher is the Tony Award-winning producer of Disney's Newsies and The Lion King, as well as Aida, Mary Poppins and The Little Mermaid. At Disney Feature Animation, Schumacher oversaw the development of such Disney films as "The Lion King," "Lilo and Stitch," "Tarzan," "Mulan," "The Emperor's New Groove," and "Pocahontas." His book, "How Does the Show Go On?," which introduces young readers to the magic of live theatre, was released in 2007.
