Goat on a Boat Puppet Theatre presents its next chapter: its unique Puppet Truck & Mobile Stage. It was created, according to GOAB, to reach underserved audiences, and will make its debut on May 28 at a fundraiser at the Breakwater Yacht Club in Sag Harbor.
“During COVID I realized that our East End audiences had easy access to ‘Goat shows’ and could afford to get their entertainment anywhere,” GOAB’s founder Liz Joyce said. “I started dreaming about a way to bring puppets and storytelling to kids who have never experienced the joy of this art form before.” Joyce conceived a mobile stage built into a box truck and — within a year — the Puppet Truck was born. She dubbed the program the Meet Our Neighbors Puppet Show Tour. “Think Bookmobile but with puppets and a lovely outdoor stage,” said Joyce.
On Saturday, May 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Breakwater Yacht Club in Sag Harbor, GOAB is hosting an adults-only fundraiser — its “21st Birthday Bash” — where attendees will witness the official launch of the Puppet Truck. For GOAB’s “coming of age” there will be a “saucy” puppet show performed by Joyce, a show by a visiting puppeteer, and a performance of blues and roots music by the Jake Lear Trio, all on the new stage.
Attendees will have the opportunity to bid on auction items and experiences donated by local businesses and individuals who value the priceless benefit GOAB brings to the East End community. Event sponsors include Montauk Brewing Company and Channing Daughters Winery. Hors d’oeuvres and birthday cake will be served.
The fundraiser will pay for further upgrading the Puppet Truck and for the 2022 Meet Our Neighbors tour. “Upisland—Western Suffolk—made the most sense for us, for the first leg of the Meet Our Neighbors Puppet Show Tour,” said Joyce. “It’s a day trip to reach kids who may have never seen a puppet show before,” she continued.
“Kids learn that puppetry is not only an art form, but something they can do too, and older kids can consider as a professional option,” said Joyce. “I’ve been mentoring Central Islip teacher Robin Holder, founder of Neuma International Arts of NY … She’s an amazing woman who’s honing her craft as a puppeteer.”
On June 11, the Puppet Truck will offer performances of Joyce’s “The Three Little Pigs” and Holder’s “The Birthday Wish” at Islip Community Day.
Before COVID hit, GOAB was based at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, where Joyce and visiting puppeteers from across the world performed for eager audiences on Saturdays. A trained art teacher, Joyce also performed shows and offered classes at venues throughout the South Fork. Although the Puppet Truck will be officially unveiled at the 21st Birthday Bash, it will enjoy a soft launch at the Green Thumb Organic Farm in Water Mill the week before with Play Groups and Tot Art programs beginning May 16, and running all summer.
The Puppet Truck will be on the East End all summer serving the local community and fundraising. Performance venues will include Amber Waves Farm, Market & Café in Amagansett; East End Food Market in Riverhead; Mind Offline in Sag Harbor; and The Springs School. All the details can be found on the GOAB website, goatonaboat.org.