November 8, 2002

"A J&H Triple Crown Winner"

Hi all -

Throughout the past years, we have experienced together many "firsts" in the world of Jekyll & Hyde. We fondly remember our first ever viewing of the production on stage after first hearing the concept album. We remember the first time we saw the show performed at the Plymouth Theater in NYC. We remember (sadly) the first lead cast member's departure as we experienced in awe Linda Eder's final performance. We remember our first viewing of the many replacement leads. We remember (again with sadness) when we first heard of the show's imminent closing on Broadway. 

For me personally, I also remember the first "regional" performance I attended after the Broadway version closed. In July 2001, I pulled my car into a parking lot of the Brundage Park Playhouse in Randolph, NJ (literally a park in the middle of the woods) and looked at a wooden barn-like structure and thought "and so it's come to this".

That afternoon, I viewed an actor named David Weitzer portray the lead role(s) of Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Edward Hyde. This past September, Mr. Weitzer deservedly won the regional Perry Award as Lead Actor in a Musical for his work in that production.

David once again had the chance to play the lead role(s) the following October for the Creative Ministries production in Oakdale, NY. It was here that I came to know David more as a friend than an actor on stage as he shared a breakfast and dinner with Marc Goldman and myself. We both learned of David's passion for the role and the show.

Tonight, at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, NJ, David Weitzer will become the first actor to portray the lead role(s) for a third time...a Jekyll & Hyde Triple Crown Event. I, along with Richie Schwartz and his gang, will be in attendance to witness this event.

CONGRATULATIONS to David on this "momentous moment". His love for the role is evident... I can not wait to see his performance again.

I have seen David perform in other productions since first meeting him in July, 2001. He has become a good friend of mine and has attended other regional Jekyll & Hyde productions with me.

Although he excels at all he attempts on stage, it is his Jekyll/Hyde portrayal that will always be my finest memory of him.

Again, congratulations to David Weitzer... for making yet another Jekyll & Hyde "first" memory!

Don Simon
Vice President, Jekyll & Hyde Fan Club

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"If he be Mr. Hyde," he had thought, "I shall be Mr. Seek."
- Utterson's Thought from Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson