Kickstarter

Dear Kickstarter Donors,

Just a friendly reminder to get your ticket requests in to Joe Bera (helenon86thtix@yahoo.com) for the spring production if you have not done so. Tickets will go on sale to the public on Smarttix this Tuesday, January 25th, and there aren't many to go around, so we want to make sure we honor your requests first! Trust me, with the cast we are putting together, you are going to want to get those tickets sooner rather than later.

If you know that you won't be able to use your tickets, we would so greatly appreciate you sending us an email to let us know. It will help us to calculate how many more tickets we have to put on sale.

In a few days I will be ready to send your rewards out, so if you haven't completed your mailing address information through Kickstarter, and you are desperately longing for that refrigerator magnet you were promised, please make sure to fill out the request. It only takes a second.

If you are wondering what I have been doing with all my time, since we reached our goal, rest assured, there has been a flurry of activity over here at Helen on 86th St. We had two wonderfully successful Equity readings last week, have just about completed casting for the spring production, and have finished hiring a "dream team" of designers and a superb production team. The script and score continues to evolve and tighten, and I continue to add more and more items to my "to do" list.

Needless to say, we are very, very busy, but incredibly excited about our spring production--and can't wait to see you all there.

Thank you all again for helping make this dream a reality. We couldn't do it without you!

Most Sincerely,
Nicole Kempskie

Dear Backers,

Thanks to your generosity and support, we were able to meet (and surpass!) our Kickstarter goal before 2011 began. I can't thank you all enough for showing such incredible enthusiasm for this project and helping us raise the invaluable money we need to put up our spring production. What a way to start off the new year!

Speaking of spring productions...here's the moment you've all been waiting for: TICKET INFORMATION!

I'd like to introduce you to my "Ticket Master:" Joe Bera. Joe has graciously offered to man our "Box Office" and will be your point-person for all ticket reservations and questions. Kickstarter just provided me with your email addresses, so Joe will be sending you all a specific email explaining the reservation procedures along with how to contact him.

Just a few answers to some ticketing questions that have come up lately:

IS THE SHOW SOLD OUT?
Let's just put it this way, after we honor the Equity ticket regulations (which include tickets for our Equity cast members and Industry professionals), and our Kickstarter Rewards, and then additional Kickstarter requests (since, we are giving you priority on tickets), yes, we will just about be sold out before tickets have even gone on sale to the public.

That being said, Joe will be taking reservations on a first-come, first serve basis, so I recommend you get your ticket requests in as soon as possible.

WHAT IF I WANT TO RESERVE MORE TICKETS TO GO ALONG WITH MY KICKSTARTER TICKETS?
You will put that request in with Joe when you give him the performance dates you are interested in, and then you can send him a check to purchase the additional tickets.

AM I GUARANTEED MY FIRST PERFORMANCE CHOICE?
Unfortunately, no. Equity restricts us from having more than 99 audience members per show. Equity also mandates that a large number of the tickets for each show be held for our Equity cast members (as compensation, since we can't pay them a salary) and for Industry professionals (Producers, Investors, Directors, Agents, etc.). Those are the rules and there is no getting around them, since we must operate on an Equity contract if you want to see the brilliant people (many being Broadway professionals) in our cast.

While Joe will do his best to accommodate your needs, there are over 350 Kickstarter requests (many for 2 or more tickets) that he has to accommodate. Please be kind to him and have a few possible dates that you would be interested in coming. He's taking on this duty for me out of the kindness of his heart. Let's not make his life chaos.

WHAT IF I NEED TO CHANGE MY RESERVATION CLOSER TO THE SHOW?
Joe will do everything to try and get you in to see Helen on 86th St., but with the scarcity of tickets and the many Equity restrictions, we can't guarantee that we will be able to switch it. I would suggest you think of this as a $175 ticket to Billy Elliot that you bought a year in advance ;)

WHAT IF I'M ON THE WENDI KAUFMAN BUS TOUR?
If you understood what that meant, you are probably coming on the charter bus with Helen on 86th St. author, Wendi Kaufman. If you could just let Joe know that when he asks for your reservations, we will deal with you Kaufman-groupies separately ;)

WHAT ABOUT MY OTHER REWARDS?
As soon as I finish this, I will be sending out a Kickstarter survey to everyone on my Rewards list to request your mailing address to that I can get your remaining rewards off to you.

Because I consider you all to be both my financial and emotional backers, if you don't mind, I'd like to keep you abreast of what's happening with the show from time to time through Kickstarter. You are a pretty amazing bunch of people, so I'd hate to lose contact with you now that our Fundraising is over. This is just the beginning!

And please be sure to introduce yourself to me in the spring when you come to see the show!

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

See you in the spring!

Nicole

Dear Backers,

Robby and I couldn't be more grateful for all of your pledges, support and enthusiasm for Helen on 86th St.

As the creators of this musical, we both know what a special story it is and the potential it has to move audiences--but you, well, you simply had take our word for it! And you did! Your trust and belief in us is astounding and humbling. We will carry it with us as we move into the planning, preparations and rehearsals for our spring production--and I guarantee it will make this show all the more beautiful.

We are so excited to share this piece of theatre with you in the spring--a musical that every one of you helped bring to fruition

Thank you for helping us reach our goal--we couldn't have done it without you.

Most Sincerely,
Nicole & Robby