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Professional recordings + CD of songs from "Journeys"!

Journeys was a play based on true stories of the ancestors of children from Story Theatre. The show included 6 poignant, original songs composed by Bára Dočkalová. We recorded the songs and want to release a CD and a book to keep these stories alive!

Author: Leah Gaffen

EUR 3,424
pledged of EUR 2,570

133%

133% completed

60 contributors pledged

Theater, Education

Praha, Hlavní město Praha, Česko

All or nothing. Project finished on Jul 4, 2020 at 15:50.

Show all rewards

We took our suitcases out of the attic and we opened them...

A great great great grandmother who was on the First Fleet to Australia?  A great great grandfather who searched for a wagon full of chocolate?  A great grandfather who freed the Flossenburg Concentration Camp?  What stories are in your suitcase?

That's how it all began. There were 12 metaphorical suitcases belonging to the members of Story Theatre, a children's theatre company based in Prague and led by Leah Gaffen.  Based on true stories from the families in the troupe, we created an award-winning performance about unknown heroes from the past three centuries.  The first was about a girl sent on the First Fleet to Australia.  The next about a Jewish family who left Poland in 1914 to search for train full of chocolate.  Another about the trauma of fighting in WWI.  How a Czech Legionnaire returned home after the war to discover his beloved had married someone else.  The desperation of a Jewish father in Vienna in 1939 who sent his son to Ireland with a bicycle.  An American soldier's journey east from Normandy to Czechoslovakia, liberating a concentration camp along the way  - never forget.  Moral choices of a 19th century businessman.  Bombardment of Dresden.  Destruction of a Slovak home. The bravery of one woman living in a small Czech town at the end of WWII.  And the courage of a mother to help an abandoned baby...   

All of those are our stories 

After we gathered the stories for Journeys, songwriter, author and playwright Bára Dočkalová jumped on board.  Bára wrote six poignant songs and compositions for the show which captured the characters' hopes, fears, and dreams.  Thanks to the beauty of the songs coupled with the personal quality of the stories, Journeys won the Czech National Children's Theatre Festival in June 2019 and was the Czech Republic's nominee for the 2020 World Festival of Children's Theatre (Toyama, Japan).

We started the project with a sense of curiosity.  By the end, we felt a huge sense of responsibility.  A debt to our ancestors who had given us these stories.  To those who had to make life-changing decisions.  To the ones who helped others - sometimes risking their own lives.  Without them, we would not be here.  With great humility (and sometimes with chills running down our spines), we took on their roles and sang for them.

And then came the final show 

..and it was over.  Or was it?   With the encouragement of Daniel Zezula from the sound recording studio Vranik, we decided to make professional recordings of the songs, along with a beautiful CD booklet and a book that would chronicle Journeys. 

This project is dedicated to all of our ancestors, and also to the family members who helped us take the suitcases out of the attic and open them.

They say that people die twice

...initially when their physical bodies die, and once again when there is no one left to remember them.  We have tried to keep the memories of our ancestors alive a bit longer.  We hope that this project might inspire other kids to ask "Grandmother, what was it like when you were little?"  

Will you help us?

The money raised through this campaign will be used to create a professionally recorded CD with a 12-page color booklet, an online CD, and a book that chronicles the process of creating Journeys.  

What are Memory Cards? 

If you make a donation to our project, you will help keep someone's story alive.  We have created a symbolic prize: Memory Cards. Each one (there will be 7) will include a portrait of one of characters from the show plus more about their lives on the back.  As the rewards increase in value, donors will receive an increasing number of cards - and keep an increasing number of stories alive. For the larger donations, we will create a memory card of one of YOUR relatives which will include original artwork by the artist who made the Journeys poster (see below).

What will the CD, the CD booklet and the Journeys Chronicle look like?

The CD will include five songs of Bára Dočkalová (recorded professionally and mixed by Studio Vranik) plus  the original score made for  a film that was part of the show. The Journeys Chronicle will be a book that includes the script of the show, photos, and all of our stories.  Below you can see mockups of the CD, the Journeys Chronicle book, and part of the 12-page CD booklet (which will include all of the song lyrics, the stories from the show, and a list of our donors).   

What if I choose a bag or a mug?

Cloth bags and mugs will have original designs created by 15-year old Johana Trejtnar.  You can choose the below image (used for our poster and CD booklet) or one from our online album which represents a specific story from Journeys.  The online album designs have not been created yet but will include a mango, an old bike, a wagon full of chocolate, the map of a journey to Australia, and the poems of Václav Hornych.

News

Jun 22, 2020 The Journey of Journeys

Only 10 days left of the campaign.  Please spread the word to your friends and encourage more people to donate! And here are more video vignettes made by kids in the show PLUS a special message from Story Theatre co-founder Jay DeYonker ! The Story of Valentin  (told by Caroline and Laura) …

More

Jun 12, 2020 The Journey of Journeys

Seel video vignettes made by kids in the show!  What was it like to be in Journeys? Johana Trejtnar (Phebe Flarty) Oliver and Dominika Dubsky (Robert Dubsky)       Thanks to our generous donors, we have already reached our fundraising goal.   Still the campaign is…

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Choose reward for your contribution

  • sold 16
    A good feeling from Journeys and early chance to download songs

    You will get an “early bird” chance to download the professional recordings of the poignant songs written by Bara Dockalova for Journeys.  The songs, which will be in MP3 format, were recorded with the children from Story Theatre in Studio Vranik.  Thanks to you, the songs will live on forever!  You will also be invited to our private CD launch party.
     

    Reward delivery: in a quarter after the Hithit project end

    EUR 11.86
    (CZK 300)

  • sold 13
    Joachim Estreicher lives on! (+ early chance to download songs, name in program)

    Joachim Estreicher was born in 1887 and died 80 years ago.  But thanks to you, the memory of Joachim will stay alive.

    You will receive a unique memento: a memory card* with the portrait of Joachim Estreicher, a businessman who owned a chocolate firm and whose life ended tragically in 1940.  The card will include his life story; your donation will help that story spread beyond his family - perhaps around the world!

    And you will also receive:
    • an “early bird”  chance to download the songs in an MP3 format 
    • your name in the program of the next Story Theatre show 
    • an invitation to our CD launch (autumn 2020)  
    * you can see a mockup of the memory card in the description below

    Reward delivery: in a quarter after the Hithit project end

    EUR 19.77
    (CZK 500)

  • sold 18
    ...and Phebe Flarty lives on too! (+ signed CD, name in CD booklet)

    In the description of the last reward you learned about Joachim.  With this one you will get his memory card plus one for Phebe Flarty, an Irish girl sent on the First Fleet to Australia for stealing 3 shawls.

    Phebe was a 15-year old girl who - like Joachim-didn't make it into the history books.  But  your donation will help Phebe and her story sail around the world.

    And you will also receive:
    • a signed CD with songs of Bára Dočkalová (accompanied by a 12-page color booklet with lyrics, stories from the show and photographs) 
    • your name listed in the CD booklet and in the program of Story Theatre’s next show
    • an invitation to our CD launch (autumn 2020)  

    Reward delivery: on address, in half a year after the Hithit project end

    EUR 39.54
    (CZK 1,000)

  • sold 4
    And Václav Hornych lives on! (+Journeys bag, CD, name in CD booklet)

    Václav Hornych jumps on board: a Czech soldier from WWI who wrote poems to his girlfriend - and lost her.  Today he is long gone, but thanks to you, his poetry and his memory will live on - along with Joachim and Phebe.

    What will we send you?  Memory cards of Joachim, Phebe and Václav Hornych, whose life was turned upside down by the war.

    And you will also receive:
    • a textile bag with an original design created by Story Theatre artist: exclusive product for Story Theatre cast members and donors
    • a signed CD with songs of Bára Dočkalová (which comes with a 12-page color booklet with lyrics, stories from the show and photos)
    • your name listed in the CD booklet and in the program of Story Theatre’s next show
    • an invitation to our CD launch (autumn 2020)  

    Reward delivery: on address, in half a year after the Hithit project end

    EUR 79.08
    (CZK 2,000)

  • sold 5
    Add Robert Dubsky to your collection! (+private film projection, CD, name in CD booklet, 2 tickets)

    Robert Dubsky, a Jewish boy from Vienna, joins Phebe, Joachim and Václav.  In 1939, fearing for his son's safety, Robert’s father sent him to Ireland alone with a bicycle - a bike that the family still has today.

    In addition to receiving four memory cards, we will arrange a private screening of the Dubsky film made for our show.  There you can talk to the creators of the film and find out more about Robert's life from members of the Dubsky family.    

    And you will also receive:
    • 2 tickets to the next  Story Theatre performance (A Star is Falling)
    • a signed CD with songs of Bára Dočkalová (which comes with a 12-page color booklet with lyrics, stories from the show and photographs)  
    • your name listed in the CD booklet and in the program of Story Theatre’s next show
    • an invitation to our CD launch (autumn 2020)  

    Reward delivery: on address, in half a year after the Hithit project end

    EUR 118.62
    (CZK 3,000)

  • sold 3
    Seven Stories (+ canvas bag/mug with original artwork, CD, name in CD booklet)

    Congratulations!  You will get the complete collection of our memory cards. 

    In addition to the ones described in earlier rewards, you will add three more: Charles Bryan,  a soldier who travelled eastwards from  Normandy to Czechoslovakia liberating Europe, freeing a concentration camp along the way.  You will meet  Valentine Lorenz Meyer, a businessman who created a company that still thrives today.  And Růžena Bukovská who couragously saved her husband's life at the end of WWII.

    And you will also receive:
    • a textile bag with an original design created by Story Theatre artist: exclusive product for Story Theatre cast members and donors 
    • a signed CD with songs of Bára Dočkalová 
    • your name listed in the CD booklet and in the program of Story Theatre’s next show
    • an invitation to our CD launch (autumn 2020)  

    Reward delivery: on address, in half a year after the Hithit project end

    EUR 158.17
    (CZK 4,000)

  • sold 0
    7 Stories + a guided tour (+ canvas bag/mug with original artwork, CD, name in CD booklet)

    Seven unknown heroes from our project - Joachim, Phebe, Václav, Robert, Charles, Růžena and Valentine- will live on thanks to you!  You will receive all of their memory cards.

    Plus Joachim’s descendents will take you on a guided tour of Prague to the places where he lived and worked.  It will end at Joachim's final home where he lived until 1939 when he was deported by the Nazis; we will see the “stumbling stone”  (stolpersteine) plaque that was placed on the sidewalk last year to commemorate him.  We’ll toast Joachim's life over a cup of hot chocolate (Swiss, we hope!) at the cafe next door.

    And you will also receive:
    • a textile bag with an original design created by Story Theatre artist: exclusive product for Story Theatre cast members and donors
    • a signed CD with songs of Bára Dočkalová 
    • your name listed in the CD booklet and in the program of Story Theatre’s next show
    • an invitation to our CD launch (autumn 2020) 

    Reward delivery: on address, in half a year after the Hithit project end

    EUR 197.71
    (CZK 5,000)

  • sold 0
    Seven Stories - and yours makes the Eighth!

    You too have a forgotten hero in your family whose story also deserves to be remembered.  

    Tell us your story, and we will make a memory card of your own hero.  We will write up the story, including a photo if you have one, and incorporate an original drawing by a Story Theatre artist.  You will get a printed version of the card as well as the original drawing.

    You will be keeping the memory of your own relative alive, plus the memories of Joachim, Phebe, Václav, Robert, Charles, Valentine,and  Ruzena.  

    And you will also receive:
    • a textile bag with an original design created by Story Theatre artist: exclusive product for Story Theatre cast members and donors
    • a signed CD with songs of Bára Dočkalová 
    • your name listed in the CD booklet and in the program of Story Theatre’s next show
    • an invitation to our CD launch (autumn 2020) 

    Reward delivery: on address, in half a year after the Hithit project end

    EUR 237.25
    (CZK 6,000)

  • sold 0
    Your own ancestor in the Journeys Chronicle (+ chronicle, CD, name in booklet, 2 tickets)

    Search through your family stories and choose one.  We will work with you and your family to create an original book with 3-5 illustrations drawn by Story Theatre artists.  

    Your story will be included in the Journeys chronicle, a book with the stories of all of our ancestors.   We will also create a memory card of your family hero.

    And you will also receive:
    • The Journeys Chronicle, a book signed by all members of Story Theatre.  
    • a signed CD with songs of Bára Dočkalová 
    • All memory cards including your ancestor.  
    • your name listed in the CD booklet and in the program of Story Theatre’s next show + VIP tickets to the show
    • an invitation to our CD launch (autumn 2020)  (podzim 2020), where we hope you will come as a VIP guest.

    Reward delivery: not specified

    EUR 395.41
    (CZK 10,000)

  • sold 1
    Your story in our hands….

    People die twice: once physically and again when no one remembers them any more.  With this donation, choose an ancestor whom you would like to keep alive.

    Story Theatre members will create a mega-prize: an original piece based on your story. It could be a film, puppet show, series of drawings, a readers' theatre performance, podcast, book... we'll develop the project and decide together!   

    And you will also receive:
    • All memory cards including one of your ancestor.  
    • The Journeys Chronicle, a book signed by all members of our company.  The chronicle will contain photos, the script, and individual stories of our characters - including yours!
    • a signed CD with songs of Bára Dočkalová 
    • your name listed in the CD booklet and in the program of Story Theatre’s next show + VIP tickets to the show
    • an invitation to our CD launch (autumn 2020) - we hope you will come as a VIP guest.

    Reward delivery: on address, in half a year after the Hithit project end

    EUR 790.83
    (CZK 20,000)

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