Irene Mecchi began her association with Disney in March 1992, when she wrote Recycle Rex, an animated short, which won the 1994 Environmental Media Award. Irene is a co-writer of Disney s animated features The Lion King, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Hercules. Along with co-author Roger Allers, she received a 1998 TONY® nomination for writing the book for The Lion King. Irene wrote the teleplay for Annie, directed by Rob Marshall, and shares a writing credit on Disney Pixar s Brave. She is adapting the Warner Bros. s 1954 A Star Is Born film as a stage musical and is developing a project with Lucasfilm.