Book & Music: Richard Jennings
Lyrics: Ted Newman

The Lost Dutchman is a richly diverse musical theatre experience following the fates of those infected with "gold fever." It tells of the quest for the "biggest gold mine in the history of the world." This multi-faceted legend has fed the dreams and passions of generations of treasure seekers.

It started with the Apaches, who considered the Superstition Mountains of Arizona sacred. The Spanish Peralta family came and took out a vast fortune until the region was ceded to the United States in 1848. On their final trip to the mine they suffered an Apache massacre. It was the lone survivor of that massacre, Miguel Peralta, who showed the German miners, Jacob Weiser and Jacob Walz, where to find the treasure. Weiser lost his life trying to protect the gold. Walz lived a strange life of penitence in Phoenix before he attempted to pass on the secret of the mine to Julia Thomas. He died before he could do so. Our story tells the tale of those who would do anything for gold!

The Arizona Office of Tourism told us that, after the Grand Canyon, they get more questions from around the world about the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine than any other Arizona topic.

PRODUCTION HISTORY

Work on The Lost Dutchman began a few years back when I learned from my friend, Arizona's State Historian Marshall Trimble, about "The biggest gold mine in the history of the world." The mine lies hidden in the Superstition Mountains, mere miles from Phoenix. Sorting out all of the different versions of the tale was hard. The story I chose to develop focuses mainly on Walz and Weiser. With the help of Lyricist, Ted Newman, historian Marshall Trimble and Apache advisor (great, great grandson of Cochise) Chesley Goseyun Wilson, the musical play took form. Arizona Musical Theatre Institute presented a well received well received production at the 3rd Street Theatre in Phoenix.

They return to the Peralta Hacienda where Miguel decides he will share the mine with his new friends. Against Terecita's wishes, Miguel takes three workers and takes Weiser & Walz to his family's mine. Coyote taunts the workers who make a plan to take the gold for themselves. Returning to the mine alone, Weiser & Walz see the three men taking gold. Coyote incites a gunfight. The workers are killed. Weiser is upset, Walz is resigned. Time passes. They mine huge amounts of gold. Weiser & Walz argue about how much gold is enough. Coyote encourages Walz. While Walz goes for supplies, Coyote torments Weiser to death. Walz returns and finds Weiser is missing and assumed dead. He cries out "It's my fault!"

ACT TWO

Years later in Phoenix, Jacob Walz lives simply. His heart longs for peace and a sense of belonging. He meets Julia Thomas, whose German husband, Charley Thomas, leaves Julia. Jacob helps Julia and gives her gold. In the festive saloon, salesmen try to raise money to build the new Arizona Canal. The townsfolk tell them Jacob has gold. Jacob gets drunk and belligerent. He curses everyone then passes out. Julia takes him home. Jacob decides to give Julia the mine. Jacob makes a map, but then catches pneumonia. He lingers in Julia's home, warning Julia about the perils of the gold, Seeing Coyote, Jacob knows his life is about to end. After Jacob dies, the townsfolk steal his map and go to find the mine. The Apache Chief, Weiser and Walz are united in the clouds. They watch as no one finds the gold. Coyote switched the maps. The Chief embraces coyote. All is well. The legend begins.

© 2004 Richard Jennings & Ted Newman