After earning a musical theater degree in her native Canada, Joanie Papillon found herself drawn to the medium of puppetry. And where, as she says, is the only place to study puppetry in an international program? That’s right: the University of Connecticut. Throwing herself into a whirlwind of learning, creating, performing, and working with fellow students on their projects, Joanie truly lived out the advice she has for students following in her footsteps: “Go all in!” Degree in hand, she’s off to work on artistic productions in the US while building connections with her company in Canada, embodying the international strength of UConn fine arts that drew her to Storrs in the first place.
Why did you choose UConn?
UConn has one of the only puppetry departments in North America. It is certainly THE ONLY place to study puppetry in an international program, I wanted to meet puppeteers from all over the world and create with them.
What’s your major or field of study, and what drew you to it?
Puppet Arts! Puppetry found me just after I completed my first degree in a musical theatre school, the Canadian College of Performing Arts. I discovered in puppetry a medium that expertly blurs the lines between the various scenic arts and requires multitalented performers and designers.
What activities were you involved in as a student?
I performed and got involved with many different shows and puppet arts projects including: ‘’Voices’’- MFA Project by Mackenzie Doss, Folly Adieu- D-Series production by Anthony Sellitto and Alyson Doyle, Boyish Charms – MFA project by Yanniv Frank, Nothing Really Matter – MFA project by Abigail Baird, and finally for my last semester, I am working on my own D-series production: ‘’TAURUS.’’
What are your plans after graduation/receiving your degree?
I wish to work on some bigger productions here in the US and start building international production projects between my company in Canada (Meute Monde) and my new colleagues in the US.
How has UConn prepared you for the next chapter in life?
It has allowed me to continue my artistic research in an incubator of many influences, skills, and knowledge. UConn has also taught me to be autonomous in my artistic practice and to define very clearly what learnings I seek and what tools I want to integrate. Finally, UConn gave me a safe space where I felt I could take risks and step outside my comfort zone, which has shown me the scope of what I can accomplish artistically.
Any advice for incoming students?
Go all in! Don’t spare yourself too much, this place has so much to offer but you must really pour yourself into it and find those meaningful connections and true inspirations that you need to fuel your career launch as an artist.
What’s one thing everyone should do during their time at UConn?
Go see a student performance!
What will always make you think of UConn?
Little Aladdin’s tabouleh salad!
