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A general view of sculptures standing in The Rock Garden in Chandigarh. The Rock Garden of Chandigarh was built by self-taught Indian artist Nek Chand Saini over the course of 18 years, where each of the featured artworks have been made using recycled industrial and urban waste. — AFP Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ celebrating 25th anniversary

he Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science is com- memorating the 25th anniversary of Disney’s animated Tclassic “Beauty and the Beast” with a cast-and-crew reunion at its Beverly Hills headquarters that will include lead voice actors Paige O’Hara, Robby Benson and Angela Lansbury. But there’ll be one notable absence at the Monday night cele- bration - the film’s Oscar-winning composer, Alan Menken. He’s got a “Beauty” of an excuse, though: He’s stuck in New York working on the new live-action version of the timeless tale. “I would love to be there,” explained the 66-year-old Menken in a weekend phone interview. “But I don’t know how I get there and back without essentially losing two days of work- ing on the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ movie.’” That film, expected in theaters next year, casts Emma Watson (the Harry Potter series) and Dan Stevens (“Downton Abbey”) in a musical version of the timeless tale, with Bill Condon (“Dreamgirls”) directing. Menken is incorporating the 1991 film’s songs, which he co-wrote with the late Howard Ashman, as well as composing new material with his “Aladdin” lyricist, Tim Rice. Reflecting on the original “Beauty” - the first animated feature to be nominated for a best-picture Oscar and the first to gross more than $100 million in North America - In this image released by Disney, characters Belle, voiced by Paige O’Hara, left, and the Menken humbly credited Ashman, who worked on the film Beast, voiced by Robby Benson appear in a scene from the animated classic, “Beauty and even as he was critically ill. the Beast,” which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. — AP photos In this Feb 7, 2011 file pho- Ashman died in March 1991 at age 40 from complica- tions of AIDS, eight months before the film’s premiere. “This, to, songwriter Alan Menken recalled how he and his wife “just wept” when they of all the projects, was the one that was infused with sort of Menken, poses for a por- got to the film’s closing credits and saw the dedication to that last flame of his talent and creativity and heart,” trait before the Academy Ashman: “It was just an incredibly intense, sad and beautiful The characters Lumiere, voiced by Jerry Orbach, and Menken said. “And, I think, at some interesting level, that Award Nominees Luncheon time, and the film is a result of that.” — AP Cogsworth, voiced by David Ogden Stiers, appear in a in Beverly Hills, Calif. comes through in ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ It comes through in scene from the animated classic, ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ these tender moments.”

In this image released by Disney, the characters Chip, voiced by Bradley The character Lumiere, voiced by Jerry Orbach, appears in a scene from the ani- In this image released by Disney, characters Belle, voiced by Paige O’Hara, left, Pierce, left, and Mrs. Potts, voiced by Angela Lansbury, appear in a scene mated classic, “Beauty and the Beast.” and the Beast, voiced by Robby Benson appear in a scene from the animated clas- from the animated classic, “Beauty and the Beast.” sic, “Beauty and the Beast”.