A new version of the classic fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty" is in the works for ABC-TV's "The Wonderful World of Disney."

Featuring a score by Henry Krieger (music) and Susan Birkenhead (lyrics) and a book by Jule Selbo, the new musical version of "Beauty" will be produced by James Pentecost Prods., reports Variety.

Pentecost, who was recently named the new associate artistic director for New York's Manhattan Theater Club, previously produced the 1995 Disney feature film "Pocahontas" and executive-produced "Gepetto," the Stephen Schwartz musical for "The Wonderful World of Disney."

The original "Sleeping Beauty" Disney feature was released in Jan. 1959 with an estimated cost of six million dollars, a figure unheard of for an animated film at that time. The movie took nearly six years to complete and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Score.

Henry Krieger received Best Score Tony nominations for his music for Broadway's Dreamgirls and Side Show. He also composed the tunes for Broadway's The Tap Dance Kid. Susan Birkenhead received a Tony nomination and a Drama Desk Award for her lyrics for Jelly's Last Jam and was also the lyricist for Triumph of Love and What About Luv?. Jule Selbo, a television writer/producer, has written for TV's "Monsters," "Melrose Place," "Models Inc." and "Space: Above and Beyond." No production or broadcast dates have been announced at press time.

—By Andrew Gans