Puppet Power to the People

The Easthampton Star
By Zoe Lubetkin

Goat on a Boat Puppet Theatre plans to take the puppetry to the people -- here and all over Long Island -- this fall as it develops and raises money for a new puppet truck and mobile stage. According to Liz Joyce, founder of the company, the truck's conception sprang from one question: "How can we bring puppets to people that don't get them?"

Goat on a Boat has been putting on puppet shows for family audiences around the South Fork for 20 years, and that anniversary caused Ms. Joyce to "re-evaluate where we were . . . and during that time I realized we aren't really serving underserved communities."

Read full article at The East Hampton Star

"Sip and Shop" Fundraiser Series for Local Nonprofits

The Southampton Press / 27east

Description:

Sage and Madison Boutique’s

“Sip and Shop” Fundraiser Series for Local Nonprofits

Chris Coffee’s boutique Sage and Madison, opened its beautiful garden on Sage Street to patrons in May, and an idea was born. “Local author—from right down the block—Stacy Dermont was here with us for the grand opening signing copies of The Hamptons Kitchen, along with the cookbook’s photographer Barbara Lassen. Local farmers and artists and neighbors dropped in to say ‘hi’ and grab a lemonade. It was great!,” says Coffee.

Coffee decided to launch a series of “sip and shop” events at the boutique.

Coffee will donate 10% of profits from sales to a local nonprofit. The “sipping” will be non-alcoholic—patrons can purchase an iced tea, iced coffee, or lemonade, from the takeout window.

On Saturday, June 26, from 5-7pm, 10% of profits will be donated to Liz Joyce’s Goat on a Boat Puppet Theater (GOAB) to support the new Puppet Truck and Mobile Stage.

In celebration of GOAB’s 20th anniversary, Joyce and company is “taking the show on the road,” appearing across the East End this summer and across the island later in the year.

“We are currently in our 20th year and, to celebrate, Goat on a Boat is launching our Puppet Truck fundraising campaign. Think Bookmobile but with puppets and a lovely outdoor stage,” says Joyce. “Our goal is to bring puppetry to under-served and under-represented communities on Long Island.”

“We’re delighted that our patrons can help launch this new, colorful program for GOAB,” Coffee says.

Read full article at The Southampton Press

Family-friendly theater productions return this summer - Newsday 6/23/2021

GOAT ON A BOAT PUPPET THEATER

The past year must have been tough on puppets stuffed in a closet for a year. At long last, they can go back to performing. Long time puppeteer Liz Joyce is presenting her original puppet show this summer, "The Marzipan Bunny." As Joyce describes it, "In this production, the puppeteers are bakers and also do puppet characters. Together, during the show, they make a bunny out of marzipan." Joyce’s shows often have an underlying theme. She explains, "The Marzipan Bunny is about unlikely partnerships and friends at odds. Becoming friends with others you wouldn’t necessarily be with." The show can appeal to a diverse audience since it’s written with very few words. Joyce says, "It’s more of a pantomime."So much goes on behind the scenes to create the magic in puppet theater. For example, Joyce dreams up her own scripts. "I get my inspiration from things in life that I love to do," she says. "While I’m doing what I love, I’m making up stories. I’m a gardener, so I have a lot of shows about life in a garden. I also love cooking and baking. I think I chose to do a baking show because it’s messy and funny, and it’s tasty." If you’d like to get a feel for what it takes to sculpt your own marzipan bunny before or after the show, try it at home with clay or Play-Doh.

INFO
Performances this summer at the Southampton Arts Center are on July 15 at 4 p.m. and Aug. 19 at 4p.m. Admission is free; 631-725-4193; 25 Jobs Lane, Southampton.

Email info@goatonaboat.org for more info.

In August, Goat on a Boat is planning on launching a new puppet truck at Amber Waves Farm in Amagansett.

Puppeteer Liz Joyce with marzipan puppets at her home studio in Sag Harbor on June 5. Credit: Morgan Campbell

Click here to read full article on Newsday
By: Cathy Turow

Puppet Playgroups at CMEE an interview by Paul Johnson

Goat on a Boat Puppet Theatre has been a long-time fixture on the East End, entertaining parents and children alike since 2001. Originally intended for just the summer season, the non-profit quickly blossomed into a year-round institution offering puppet shows, playgroups, family workshops, and special events. We spoke with the organization’s founder, Liz Joyce, and discussed how she became a puppeteer, Goat on a Boat’s move to Bay Street, and offering Puppet Playgroups at the Children’s Museum this fall.

How did you first get involved with puppets?

It was kind of accidental. I went art school and I was certified to teach K through 12. I was heading in that direction, but I made some puppets around Christmastime. I brought a few to the Children’s Museum of Richmond and the woman in charge of programming invited me to do a puppet show. The first show was…eh…the second one was great. It combined all my creative talents and teaching and arts and performance. I built my company that summer, 1993, and have been doing it ever since.

When did you start Goat on a Boat and offering puppet playgroups?

I was living in Brooklyn and my sister had a place out here. When I started Goat on a Boat in 2001, it was just going to be for the summer. At the end of the season, a couple of moms approached me and encouraged me to offer a weekly playgroup. I had never been around such a young group before…I just had to figure it out as I went along. That’s how the puppet playgroups were built.

The playgroups are 45 minutes. We have circle time. We introduce ourselves. We sing some songs, play interactive games, and then we do a puppet show. They’re full of sound effects and visuals that make it enticing for the 3 and under crowd.

You recently moved to Bay Street Theater. How did that move come about?

Last fall, we moved out of our old space where we had been for 15 years. My Board thought it was time for a change. The Bay Street agreement included administrative support—being part of their team—and that was incredibly appealing. I was working with a spare small staff and got bogged down in non-creative work. Since the move, I’ve been able to do an an amazing amount. Working with Bay Street has been nothing but positive.

We’re thrilled to host Puppet Playgroups at the Children’s Museum this fall.  We noticed that it’s been a little while since you’ve done them. Why did you decide to offer them again?

I have people who have kids who are in high school come up to me and tell me, “It was the best time in my kid’s life,” “I’ve made lifelong friends,” and “Goat on a Boat really saved the day.” I felt sad that I wasn’t doing it anymore and wanted to do one for the kids who never got to experience it. I like knowing every little kid who walks by and their parents. It’s a way I connect to the community.

Goat on a Boat loves its new home at Bay Street Theater!

Goat on a Boat has officially moved to its new home at Bay Street Theater. Not only do we love being part of the Bay Street team, but we love our location right at the end of Main Street in Sag Harbor. From our new home on the Long Wharf, we can see the windmill, we can see the water and come summer there will be ice cream right next door! In Bay Street's beautiful performance space, we can host puppeteers with bigger shows even though we still do lots of smaller shows. We hope that you will come and see a show soon. Shows happen on holiday weekends and every Saturday in March.

All for One - One for All

THE SAG HARBOR EXPRESS - May 10, 2007
Arts & Leisure Section

This Friday, May 11 at 7 p.m. at the Bridgehampton Community House, Goat on a Boat Puppet Theatre will give East End audiences a taste of Eastern Europe when the Alfa Theatre from the Czech Republic performs "The Three Musketeers" an award-winning show featuring eight puppeteers, two musicians and 30 hand-carved puppets. The puppet company recently traveled to the United States as part of a tour, and has found some spare time at the end of the tour to add on this show.

"It's a traditional hand puppet show, but the sets are incredible," says Liz Joyce of Goat on a Boat. "It's state sponsored theatre, so they have an on-set carver, live Czech folk music and a set manager. Most of the show is non-verbal pantomime. In between the scenes, the band will sing songs with titles projected over the stage."

Joyce notes that because audience members must be able to read the titles, the performance is geared toward adults and recommended for children over 8 years of age.

"It's a little longer than most shows and very sophisticated," she notes. "It's brilliantly performed. As far as traditional hand puppet theatre, most people here have never seen something so magically enchanting. We're really lucky to have it."

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