Hello everyone! It's been a month or so since I've touched base, and I wanted to keep everyone updated on the progress of Fresh!

I spent much of the last week in New York, where I began meeting with my incredible director (announcement to come soon!) to further our plans for the reading. Our plan is to hold auditions a few weeks before the show, which we hope to put on its feet in mid-Spring. I've also begun looking into some options for a Manhattan performance venue; although the main objective is to invite various industry professionals (producers, agents. etc.) to the reading, my hope is that we will be able to open the doors to some of our backers as well. I will be sure to keep you all posted as that develops!

In the meantime, I am preparing hundreds of Kickstarter gifts, which I hope to begin sending out within the next few weeks! Here is a picture of me signing "One Grain More" posters with cast member Michael DeFlorio:

Left: Michael DeFlorio wearing a traffic cone.  Right: Me.

Thank you all so much for your wonderful enthusiasm and support - get excited for some awesome gifts!!
Best wishes,
Michael

Dear "Fresh!" backers,

I am gratified beyond words to announce that not only did we meet our $10,000 goal for this reading, but we surpassed it by $436!

I truly cannot thank you all enough for everything that you have given to this project. Thank for your donations, for the time spent bringing others into this campaign, and above all, for your faith that this project can and will have a place in the future of the American musical. I am more grateful to you than I could ever express, and cannot wait to get to work on this project that, thanks to you, will soon become a reality!

Over the next few days, I will be sending "backer surveys" via Kickstarter to anyone who has selected a reward category. Please be sure to send these back in, so that you can receive your gifts ASAP!

Thank you again,
Michael Bihovsky

The Success:

Hello Fresh! backers! Thank you, each of you, for your amazing contributions towards this show - as of today, Fresh! has 72 backers, 431 Facebook mentions, and is on the front page of Philadelphia's City Suburban News. Thanks to you, we are 72% of the way there!

The Challenge:

Most Kickstarter contributions come in at the beginning of campaigns (we got 50% of donations in the first 3 days), so the challenge is to appeal to new donors before our deadline in two weeks. Remember: if we don't reach 100% of our goal, we won't get any of the funds...and that means no show :-(.

And so, even though you've already been so amazing, I'm asking for your help once more: If you can, please think if you know of anyone who might take an interest in this show, and consider sending them an email with a link to this Kickstarter. I would be so grateful, and I truly can't do this without you!

Thank you all SO much, and have a wonderful weekend!
-Michael