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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

Who is Bára Dočkalová?

Bára Dočkalová is a composer, author, teacher and playwright from Prague. Last year, her children's book Tajemství Oblázkové hory (The Mystery of Pebble Mountain) was nominated for Magnesia Litera, the top award for Czech children's books. She has written numerous plays for children, most of which include original songs, and made professional recordings of them. She is a trained English teacher and has developed her own teaching methodology based on drama education; she currently teaches at the Charles University Pedagogical Faculty. You can find out more about her work at www.actandspeak.com.

Are the songs based on real stories?

Yes. They were written over a period of four months. Initially the children shared their stories with Bára, Leah Gaffen (the show's director), and the rest of the cast. There were many stories (some families had more than one and it was hard to choose which one we'd use for the show!). Together we decided where we'd incorporate songs into the show; it seemed natural that the "owner" of the song - the descendants of the protagonists - would sing some of the solos.

How did the project start?

Leah Gaffen, founder of Story Theatre and the show's director, came up with the idea of Journeys. Fifteen years ago, Leah created a (very different) show with another group of children which was inspired by Phebe Flarty, Leah's great great great great great grandmother, who was sent on the First Fleet to Australia in 1787 for stealing 3 muslin shawls. It was a story that Leah wanted to revive and create with her own daughter (now a member of Story Theatre). Then it occurred to Leah that it would be a more interesting process if the other kids in the troupe also found stories about their own ancestors. Initially many of kids were dubious that they would find something interesting. But over time, as parents, grandparents, and other relatives got involved, so many fascinating stories emerged.

What is Story Theatre?

Leah Gaffen founded Story Theatre six years ago with American actor Jay DeYonker in Prague under the umbrella of “Class Acts,” a community of families that organize cultural and literary activities in English . Story Theatre has produced 9 shows over the years, adapting classic stories such as Oliver Twist, The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland and The Tempest. Journeys was our first completely original show. Story Theatre is a place where the kids get together, speak a hybrid language of Czech and English, and make some great shows. Currently Story Theatre is creating a new original show about communist Czechoslovakia called "A Star is Falling."

What will be on the CD?

The CD will consist of five songs recorded by Daniel Zezula of Studio Vranik plus a bonus track of music scored for a film in the show. Three of the songs plus the film score are from stories of the show (The Chocolate Song, Phebe's Lullaby, and Mango). There are also two songs that were the opening and closing songs of the show (Journeys song and Suitcases). The CD booklet will include the song lyrics, individual stories from the show and many photos.

Who arranged the songs?

Vít Beneš, a talented composer and musician, worked closely with Bára to arrange the songs for piano, clarinet, and violin. The instrumentals were performed by children in Story Theatre.
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EUR 3,432
pledged of EUR 2,576

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.

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 11.89
    (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 19.81
    (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 39.63
    (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 79.26
    (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 118.88
    (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 158.51
    (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 198.14
    (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 237.77
    (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 396.28
    (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 792.55
    (CZK 20,000)

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