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New York Monthly Herald. May 2006 Issue P. 2 Continued from page 1                 Continues on page 3                                                                                            

Music                                     From the desk of Shoshanna Rosenstein

Janet Jackson back in the fall

Singer working with three hit-making producers on new CD

Janet Jackson fans will have to wait until the fall for her first new album in two years. Tentatively titled 20 Years Old, the CD is being produced by hit-makers Jimmy “Jam” Harris and Terry Lewis and Jackson’s boyfriend Jermaine Dupri. “Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are musical powerhouses,” Dupri says in a release.  “Our individual successes have been unparalleled and have kept music fans bouncing to our beats and singing our songs for years. “The world has no idea what they are about to experience – Janet has the best production trio possible – and I guarantee, we will deliver!” It will be Jackson’s first album since 2004’s Damita Jo, which was a commercial flop. Earlier this month, a Jackson track called “Put It On Me” was leaked on the Internet. The singer was quick to explain it was recorded about two years ago and is not from her forthcoming release. “I have a tight rein on all of the music that has been recorded,” she said

Elliot musical leads stage awards

Photo: Winners: James Lomas, George McGuire and Liam Mower.

The stage version of Billy Elliot has won four prizes at the Laurence Olivier Awards, including one shared between three of its young stars. James Lomas and George Maguire, 15, and Liam Mower, 13, who share the title role, won best actor in a musical. Its composer, Sir Elton John, shared best new musical with writer Lee Hall. The Almeida Theatre's revival of Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler also won four awards in the ceremony, which honours the best of the London stage. Its star Eve Best won best actress, while Richard Eyre won best director.

It also won best revival and best set design. Brian Dennehy took the best actor award for his performance in Arthur Miller's Death of A Salesman, while comedy actress Celia Imrie won best supporting role in a musical for her part in Acorn Antiques - The Musical! A special award was presented to Sir Ian McKellen in recognition of his contribution to theatre, at the ceremony at the London Hilton.

Breaking voices: Of the three Billy Elliot stars, only one, Liam, is still performing - breaking voices have forced the other two to bow out of the smash hit musical.

They are the only actors to have won the award in a shared capacity and the youngest-ever winners of an award. Billy Elliot also won best theatre choreographer and best sound design. The trio beat Ewan McGregor to their prize, but his Guys and Dolls co-star Jane Krakowski won best actress in a musical for her performance as Miss Adelaide. Liam said: "Ewan should be grateful to be nominated! I know he's a big Hollywood star and I didn't expect to beat him. It's outstanding." McGregor said he was "delighted" that the Billy Elliot stars had won the award. Anthony Minghella's production of Puccini's Madam Butterfly at the English National Opera won best new opera production.

Hip-hop star Snoop turns novelist

Photo: Snoop Dogg had a number one US hit with Drop It Like It's Hot

Hip-hop star Snoop Dogg is working on his first novel. The book - titled Love Don't Live Here No More - will be published in the US in October. The book tells the story of a young man living the hard life in Southern California while struggling to make it in the world of hip-hop. "Snoop, by nature of what he does, is a storyteller," Kathleen Schmidt, vice president and director of publicity for publishers Atria, told Billboard. "Books speak more to a female audience than does his music, so these novels give him an opportunity to show, particularly his female fans, another side." Love Don't Live Here No More will be the the first novel in a series from Snoop Dogg, real name Calvin Broadus.

Coldplay top Ivor nomination list

Photo: Coldplay were named songwriters of the year at the 2003 Ivors.

Coldplay lead the field at this year's prestigious Ivor Novello songwriting awards with three nominations. Speed of Sound is up for international hit of the year and most performed work, while Fix You is nominated for best song musically and lyrically. James Blunt's track You're Beautiful is in line for two awards, with Gorillaz, KT Tunstall and the Arctic Monkeys also in the running for honors. The awards honor British songwriters, composers and music publishers. Other nominees this year include Brit award winners Kaiser Chiefs, up for best contemporary song with I Predict a Riot, Robbie Williams, also up for international hit of the year with Tripping, and actress and singer Natalie Imbruglia.

'Endeavour and inspiration': Presented by the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters in association with the Performing Right Society, the 51st Ivors will be held at Grosvenor House in London on 25 May. Nominees in six categories, including best TV soundtrack and best original film score, were announced on Monday. Another nine other awards - which include prizes for best album, international achievement and songwriters of the year - will be presented on the day. "Music cannot exist without the Endeavour and inspiration of songwriters," said David Ferguson, head of the Academy. "At a time when more music is getting stolen than ever before... it is critical to honor and reward the people who write and initiate the music we all enjoy." Continues on page 3