Mamma Mia! Look who's joined ranks of music's millionaires

BY MICHAEL Horsnell

MONEY, money, money... Judy Craymer, the lowly stagehand who became the most powerful woman in the West End with her musical based on Abba's hits, has entered the ranks of the super-rich.

The Euro-pop which propelled the Swedish group to stardom in the Seventies has shot Ms Craymer, 47, into The Sunday Times Rich List 2005 with a personal fortune estimated at 67 million Sterling Pounds.

Mamma Mia! opened in 1999 to instant acclaim and reached its 2,500th London performance recently as one of the world's most successful shows, generating more than 4 million Sterling Pounds a week.

It has taken more than 520 million Sterling Pounds at the box office and has been seen by 20 million people in 14 productions around the world. Yet its creator had to sell her home to start the project and even members of the group questioned its chances of success.

Ms Craymer, a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music, worked first as an assistant stage manager at the Haymarket Theatre, Leicester. Several jobs in stage management followed, until at 22 she landed a job in London as assistant stage manager for the original production of the musical Cats.

A year later she became assistant to Sir Tim Rice and met Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, two members of Abba, who were writing the music for Rice's musical Chess. Thus the idea for Mamma Mia! was born.

Ms Craymer is ranked 31st in the newspaper's music millionaires category and 735th in its overall list, which will be published soon.

She owns 25 per cent of Littlestar, which made 9 million Sterling Pounds profit in its 2002-03 accounts and is said to be worth 200 million Sterling Pounds. That values her stake at 50 million Sterling Pounds. Past salaries, dividends and property take her to 67 million Sterling Pounds.

Ms Craymer is one of 160 new entries in the list of Britain's richest 1,000 people but still has some way to go before she catches up with the music industry's wealthiest.

Clive Calder, the reclusive former record label boss behind pop acts such as Britney Spears and *N Sync, is once again Britain's only music billionaire, preventing Sir Paul McCartney from regaining the title he had previously held for six years.

Mr. Calder's 1.3 billion Sterling Pound fortune (up 65 million Sterling Pounds on last year) was gained from selling his independent record label Zomba to BMG. He ranks 25th among the 1,000.

Sir Paul, second among the richest music millionaires, increased his wealth by 40 million Sterling Pounds this year, taking him to 800 million Sterling Pounds and a ranking of 50th in the overall list, down from 40th last year.

With a solo album due this year, a 2002 world tour income of 103.3 million Sterling Pounds and 1.8 million Sterling Pounds paid for playing at the Super Bowl half-time show in Florida in February, Sir Paul's income seems secure.

Profits and turnover rose to 2.5 million Sterling Pounds and 21.7 million Sterling Pounds respectively at this MPL Communications in 2003-04, which adds to the wealth from his music rights, art, inheritance of 138 million Sterling Pounds from his first wife, Linda, and other assets.

Completing the three richest music millionaires is Lord Lloyd-Webber, whose wealth has soared over the past year from 400 million Sterling Pounds to 700 million Sterling Pounds.

The composer, who had a hit this year with his latest musical, The Woman in White, has used his earnings to buy London theatres through his company the Really Useful Group.

He is considering selling the business, worth an estimated 500 million Sterling Pounds, which contributes to his increased valuation.

His art collection, homes in Britain and abroad, other property and dividends add a further 200 million Sterling Pounds to his wealth.

(Courtesy: London Times)

Ruwan Tharaswin - winner at 10th International Cartoon Competition

SRI LANKAN Cartoonist Ruwan Tharaswin has received a 'honourable mention award' for his presentation to the "Haifa 2004" the 10th International Cartoon Competition held at Israel, organised by Israel 'Haifa Municipality', and Israel Cartoon Association "pencom" with the collaboration of the Israel National Commission for UNESCO.

This competition was held under the theme of "Environmental protection, Nature reserves, Ecology" and was participated by a large number of cartoonists from 52 countries.

His cartoon which won the above award was published in the winning cartoon collection named '10th International Cartoon Competition Environment.'

In his cartoon he has drawn a large natural forest as viewed from the sky. The smugglers have deforested the middle of it. The bottom part of the trees with the roots are seen to be left.

It looks like a human skull. By this Tharaswin has shown the danger of deforestation of natural forests.

Tharaswin is serving in Dinamina Editorial of the Lake House. Earlier he has achieved about 15 positions including first place prizes, awards and appreciations at the International cartoon competitions held in West Germany, America, Israel, Japan, Switzerland and Iran. This latest one is his 16th achievement.

70th International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous to be held in Canada

THE City of Toronto in Canada is all agog - preparing for the 70th International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous to be held on June 30, July 1, 2 and 3 this year.

AA which was started in 1935 in Akron, Ohio by two alcoholics - Dr. Bob - an Akron Physician and Bill W - a New York Stock Broker has now reached some 180 countries with over two million members. International Conventions are held every 5 years. The last one was in Minnesota in 2000 which saw an attendance of 50,000.

The first AA Group in Sri Lanka was held in Colombo in 1964 with literature and guidance from AA's General Service Office in New York. It was held at the Central YMCA building though AA is not affiliated with any sect or denomination.

International Conventions commence with an impressive flag ceremony at which the flag of every country represented is individually waved to the tremendous ovations from the thousands gathered. Here is the Sri Lanka flag at the last International Convention at Minnesota in the year 2000.

Sri Lankan opens beauty spa in California

A Sri Lankan has been successful in opening a beauty salon and spa in Califonia, USA, giving a feather in the cap to the local beauty trade. Ilanka Samarasekara (nee Perera), former owner of salon shears at Mount Lavinia Hotel, Neptune Hotel, Eden Hotel opened Sigiri Lounge Salon and spa in the city of Fullerton California on February 5, 2005.

Ilanka who obtained cosmetology and esthetician diploma in vidal sassoon in London and in USA, Career Academy of Beauty Anaheim California and clause Haar Schule, Frankfurt Germany has also participated in many hair and fashion shows in UK and USA.

After tying the nuptial knot with former Resident Manager at Eden Hotel Upali Samarasekara, Ilanka migrated to USA in 1999 and worked as a manager and instructor for various salons and cosmetology schools in California.

Ilanka's latest salon in which she is promoting ayurvedic products was opened by Sebastian Perera who holds and operates the franchise for a host of international beauty pageants in Sri Lanka.

The ceremonial oil lamp was also lit by Lynell Breger, Effie and Amera Weerakkody, Angelique Rozairo, Tony Vaca, Shakya Perera and Upali Samarasekera.

Who is Abey Dissa?

WELL, Abey Dissa is a great personality behind a number of interesting books which he has published. Among them are books on Poetry, Religion Stories of the desert and another named The Gullible a collection of short stories - lots of humour in these - and another very enjoyable laugh Loud and Long - yes lots of things to laugh loud and clear.

May be bits of nonsense here and there but still enjoyable - good fun to put you in the mood for what, do you know? Ya - Laughing is good for your appetite - So read his books which are for sale and enjoy good laughing and giggling.

I went through these books rather briefly and found them to be praiseworthy. His efforts should no doubt catch the public eye. There is plenty of reading matters, nice jokes, both spicy and what I may call table jokes as well.

In Dissa's book The Gods and time with thoughts in Rhyme the verses Good Bye My Dear touched my heart as I know the family personally and sure he said goodbye to his dear wife Malini about eight years ago.

Actually his chapter on Death really brings a tear to one's eyes as Dissa has put all his tears in rhyme beautifully thereby touching the hearts of those who read this.

In his book Laugh Loud and Long there's lots of naughty lines but may be could laugh but with the tongue in your cheek. So read on.

Storms in the Desert is in lighter vein - Enjoy it. His book Random Reflections in Rhyme carries in the Preface "I do not claim to be a poet but as I like Rhythm I have tried to put down in verse the ideas that persisted in my mind!". So as he says his relations to encourage him to keep on writing and so do I.

His efforts should no doubt promote more reading among the public. Heartiest congrats Disa on your venture. Keep on writing as this seems to be your Love.

Just as Music is my love and my motto if Music be the food of love play on I say to Disa let your motto be If writing be the food of love write on!!

- Yvonne F. Keerthisingha