INTERVIEW: Goat On A Boat Founder Liz Joyce On Yael Rasooley’s “Paper Cut,” Venturing Into Adult Puppeteering, And More

Goat on a Boat Puppet Theatre, a non-profit puppet theater based out of Bay Street, is presenting its inaugural show geared for adults on Friday, March 8 at 8 p.m.

We caught up with Liz Joyce, Goat on a Boat Founder and Artistic Director, to learn more about the production – Yael Rasooley’s Paper Cut, its International Women’s Day tribute, puppeteering, and more.

How did you initially get into puppeteering?

LJ: I was trained as a fine artist and received my teacher certification in art education. While waiting for a teaching job, I basically fell into puppetry and ended up loving this creative field.

How did Goat on a Boat land at Bay Street?

LJ: We were looking for a new home. Bay Street was very welcoming.

Will this be Goat on a Boat’s first puppet show for adults?

LJ: Yes, this is our first puppet show for adults! It actually is a genre, a small one and very unique.

What attracted you to Yael Rasooley’s Paper Cut?

LJ: I saw it at the Puppeteers of America’s National festival and loved it. When I heard she would be back touring the show, I jumped at the chance to share her with our Sag Harbor audience.

What does it mean to you to be presenting this particular performance in honor of International Women’s Day?

LJ: Yael is a solo female performer. She has toured the world with her award-winning show. I think it is the perfect way to celebrate International Women’s Day to have a strong, talented, International, female performer on our stage.

For those that have never attended a puppet show, what can they expect?

LJ: They can expect to see creativity, art and theater combined into the unexpected!

Can we expect more puppet shows for adults in the future?

LJ: Goat on a Boat will be presenting a puppet slam late this fall. A puppet slam is a night of short, funny and poignant performances created by a group of puppet companies.

Can you speak a bit about the connection between puppetry and establishing a life-long love of theater for children?

LJ: I believe that puppetry is the gateway to a life-long love of theater. Unlike watching screens, kids engage with puppetry. They cheer for the protagonists and get caught up in the experience. They continue to tell the stories and make up their own long after they have left the theater. Once they have begun this relationship with seeing live performances, they are more likely to become theater-goers for the rest of their lives.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

LJ: Thanks for your time!!

Tickets to Paper Cut are $30. A wine reception will follow.

Bay Street Theater is located at 1 Bay Street in Sag Harbor. For more information, call 631-725-9500 or visit www.baystreet.org.