Wyandotte Theater Group Goes Online to Fund Show

is testing out a new way to raise some money.

The group has gone online to Kickstarter.com, which dubs itself as the "the world's largest funding platform for creative projects."

The goal is to raise $1,000 to offset some of the costs of putting on

The way Kickstarter works is AKT selects varying donation levels and assigns "gifts" to those who pledge that amount.

For instance, those who pledge $5 receive a special "thank you" printed in the Spring Awakening program and e-mail updates on the progress of the show, including photos and cast/crew commentary.

Those who pledge $100 receive the above perks, along with a personalized "thank you" note, special recognition on the group's website and Facebook page, and two tickets to opening night.

As of midnight Thursday, the group had a third of its $1,000 campaign funded, with nine people pledging a total of $335. Per Kickstarter rules, the group must raise the full amount by the deadline it set (Feb. 17) or else it doesn't receive any of the money and those who pledged are not billed for their donations.

Of the nine backers, some of them are people who are unfamiliar to AKT staff.

"Some people who are backing our project like to support several projects from that website that they are interested in," AKT Artistic Director said. "It's great because it draws in new people and shows the value in using a site like Kickstarter."

Ferrante said she's hopeful the entire $1,000 can be raised.

"It would be really, really fantastic if we made this goal," she said. "We are going to fight through and do the show anyway, but the $1,000 would mean so much. The show means a lot to a lot of people."

The $1,000 is earmarked to help create the set, which needs to be bought and assembled.

"In order to create the set for this show, we need to purchase many new things we don't already have in stock," the group wrote on Kickstarter. "Putting aside the massive investment in sound equipment and costumes, the set is going to be quite a challenge. ...

"We are extremely excited to tackle this show. The group of people coming together are unlike any other and we will create something unique to our creativity and personalities. … We have the heart. Now we'd like the production value to match.”

Ferrante estimates it's going to cost her theater group about $10,000 to put on the show. To do that, she said, the show will need to have an average of 75 people attend each performance. It's a feat that she said she's willing to take on.

"If we can get just that, I'd be ecstatic," Ferrante said. "Breaking even is awesome. If we break even, we’re in a good place and we can keep doing it."

In addition to the financial aspect, she said, the group is pleased with the buzz created since deciding to do list a project on Kickstarter.

"It’s a fantastic way for people to learn about what is going on around them," Ferrante said." The kinds of stuff they have on there is really wonderful. Just the awareness we've received about our production is worth using the fundraising site. A lot of traffic has come to our Facebook page and to our website from people seeing it there. It's a whole new audience."

The Show Will Go On

AKT was the first theater company in Michigan to secure the rights to perform Spring Awakening, a controversial musical that’s swept the country by storm.

"Spring Awakening is to this generation what RENT was 10 years ago,” Ferrante said. “This is the dream show."

Winner of eight Tony Awards, including "Best Musical," Spring Awakening celebrates the unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with a power, poignancy and passion that you will never forget, Ferrante said.

The musical, which is set in Germany, takes its inspiration from one of literature's most controversial masterpieces. The work was so daring in its depiction of teenage self-discovery that it was banned from the stage and not performed in its complete form in English for nearly 100 years.

Adapted from Frank Wedekind's 1891 play about the trials, tears and exhilaration of the teen years, it has been hailed as the "Best Musical of the Year" by a number of publications, including The New York Times.

Ferrante said she’s wanted to perform the show for years, but never imagined it would be made available so soon after recently performing on Broadway and touring the country. The tour ended May 15. Amateur performance licenses began being available on May 24. Less than 24 hours later, Ferrante got the green light to perform the show

“In the back of my mind, I would have killed to do the show, but I never thought it would be possible,” she said about an hour after receiving word that she had been granted performance rights. “I am speechless. My heart is jumping out of my chest right now.”

Ferrante warns that the show is rated "R" for good reason.

“It’s very explicit and controversial, but the messages are extremely important,” she said.

Spring Awakening will be performed at the . Showtimes are 8 p.m. April 13-14, 20-21 and 27-28, and 2 p.m. April 15 and 22.