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Booking info: (702) 245-8947
Interviews: (702) 403-8386
For Nationwide Bookings please contact:
The Brad Simon Organization Inc.
155 West 46th Street 5th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Phone: 212-730-2132
Fax: 212-730-2895
or email:
International Circus Star and 26 Shelter Rescued Pets Star in the
Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
LAS VEGAS – The Popovich Comedy Pet Theater celebrates the first year of daily performances in Las Vegas this month. Gregory Popovich, producer and star of the show, and his entourage of furry four legged performers, have traveled and performed throughout the United States and all over the world, but for the past year the afternoon show has been featured at the V Theater in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.
The world famous Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is a family-oriented blend of the unique physical comedy, juggling, and balancing skills of internationally acclaimed award winner Gregory Popovich, and the extraordinary talents of his 26 performing pets. To date, the show features 16 cats and 10 dogs, all animals which have been rescued from animal shelters across the country.
“I have actually nicknamed my show 'A Second Chance' because that is what my kitty cats and dogs have been given, a second chance at life,” says Popovich of his pet performers.
Throughout the hour-long performance, audiences will be able to witness acts such as the Dog Classroom, the Amazing Housecats, and the Animal Train. Other acts in the show treat audiences to surprise appearances from more animal performers, including ferrets, white rats, and trained doves.
When asked how he trains dogs and cats for the show, Gregory explains, “Each animal has a special quirky thing they naturally like to do. I figure out what this trick or talent is, and then I just encourage them to do it in my show. When my pets are performing, they are showing off their favorite tricks!”
Popovich goes on to illustrate an example. From a young age, one of his kittens always jumped on the back of his Wirehaired Fox Terrier when the dog would walk by. Gregory incorporated this 'natural trick' into the show, and now the act leaves audiences delighted and amazed as the cat climbs on the shoulders of the dog and enjoys a piggy back ride across the stage.
Popovich, a Russian native and former star of the Moscow Circus, has won numerous circus competitions, awards, and recognition for his juggling and balancing abilities. Currently, he holds the world record in a balancing/juggling feat in which he stands atop a nine foot free standing ladder and juggles nine rings.
The Popovich Comedy Pet Theater celebrates its 10 year anniversary this year. The show has thrilled audiences in countries all over the world including France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Israel, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, and Canada. Additionally, the show was performed in numerous US cities including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, and Miami. In May of 2006, the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater ended their world tour and began performing daily in Las Vegas.
Show tickets for the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater are $35.00 plus tax and surcharge for adult general admission and $49 plus tax and surcharge for VIP seating. Children's admission is $15.00 plus tax and surcharge.
Tickets are available at the V Theater box office or by calling (702) 932-1818. Tickets are also available onlne at www.comedypet.com. Performances are daily at 3:30pm (Dark Friday) at the V Theater in the Miracle Mile at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.
More information about the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater and/or Gregory Popovich is available online at www.comedypet.com
Bookng Info: (702) 245-8947
Interviews: (702) 403-8386
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GREGORY POPOVICH BIOGRAPHY
HOW IT ALL BEGAN:
Gregory Popovich grew up in a unique environment as the child of Russian circus performers Alex and Tamara Popovich. In addition to their juggling and performing skills, Gregory's parents were dog trainers. From a very young age, Gregory formed a special bond with animals. Eventually, the connection he formed with his mother's show dogs led to his participation onstage, assisting with Tamara's dog act. At the age of six, Gregory began to learn the art of juggling. Eight years later, he prepared his first solo act – juggling on a free-standing ladder. After the public debut of his feat, Gregory became a member of the great Moscow Circus Group at the age of 17.
CIRCUS LIFE:
For the next few years, Gregory traveled the world with the Moscow Circus. He eventually became the star of the circus, and was asked to be their representative at the international circus competitions worldwide – in Paris, Brussels, Mexico City, and Monte Carlo. During his time, Gregory completed a special five year course, earning a degree of 'Circus Creator and Producer'. He continued to work as a circus performer and also appeared in Soviet films, in three starring roles.
In 1990, Gregory was invited to join the Ringling Brother Barnum and Baily Circus in the United States. He performed his juggling act in the center ring, the first Russian artist to ever appear in the “Greatest Show on Earth”.
CATS IN THE SHOW:
In 1992, Gregory was invited to Las Vegas as a featured performer at the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino. While practicing for the show, Gregory and his wife Izolda, also a performer decided to use their family kitten, Snowbird, in Gregory's clown act. The audiences' responses to the kitten act was consistently so great, that Gregory began to think about building an entire routine based on performing cats. Now, it was just a matter of finding the right cats.
A friend encouraged Gregory to visit an animal shelter to look for cats that could become the additional performing pets. Gregory decided to follow his friend's advice and look for new animal talent at the shelter. Upon his visit, Gregory was dismayed and stunned to see so many animals without a home or a loving family, animals that had so much potential, but had been discarded. He began to adopt and train cats from the shelter, and when they were ready, he introduced them as part of his show. This venture eventually became the amazing “Cat Skills” act.
TOURING THE WORLD:
The “Cat Skills” act, combined with Gregory's superlative juggling, physical comedy, equilibrist balancing on the Rolla-Bolla, cigar box routine, and slack-wire expertise ultimately led to the formation of “The One Man Moscow Circus”. In 1995 Gregory took a short break from Circus Circus, and opted for a change of scenery, as the show went on a tour overseas, focusing solely on Japan. “The One Man Moscow Circus” and his cats toured to much acclaim in many of Japan's major cities, including Hiroshima, Yokohama, Sapporo and Tokyo.
A year later, when Gregory returned to Las Vegas and Circus Circus, he wanted to expand the animal portion of his show. In addition to his popular cat act, Gregory began building an impressive dog act. Just like he recruited his cats, Gregory adopted all the show's dogs from shelters, and incorporated their unique talents into his show. The show played for the next several years and was voted “Best Family Attraction in Las Vegas”.
In 2000, Gregory took his show on the road, or rather, the world. Gregory and his cast thrilled audiences in over 25 countries, including France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Israel, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, and Canada. Additionally, the show was performed in numerous US cities including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, and Miami.
RETURNING TO LAS VEGAS:
The world tour concluded in 2005, at which point Gregory decided to once again return to Las Vegas. During the tour, Gregory had adopted more cats and dogs as he visited shelters across the country. He had started training all the animals for a new show – a new production which he was going to introduce as “The World Famous Popovich Comedy Pet Theater”. The addition of doves, white rats, and ferrets balanced out the animal portion of the show. In June 2006, the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater made its debut at the V Theater, located in the Miracle Mile at Planet Hollywood Casino (at that time it was the Desert Passage Mall at the Aladdin Resort and Casino) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Gregory's wide, Izolda, and daughter Anastasia, are both performers in the show. The Popovich family lives in Las Vegas, along with their 26 performing furry family members as well as several other 'camera shy' pets.
GREGORY'S PHILOSOHY:
Gregory's goal is to educate people to the concept that every animal is unique and that people have great responsibility to their pets. Both professionally and personally, Gregory strongly supports and promotes adopting an animal from the shelter and increasing participation in the practice to spay/neuter cats and dogs. Through his show and personal endeavors, Gregory hopes to enlighten people and increase awareness of the important role that humans play – the huge difference that one caring person can make to the animal world.
To show his support for animal shelters, sanctuaries, and organizations, Gregory has and will continue to participate in fundraising events, community awareness initiatives/programs, and cooperative opportunities in the local and national communities.
YOU'VE SEEN HIM IN:
The unique and entertaining Gregory Popovich and his Comedy Pet Theater have been featured in countless newspapers across the globe. People magazine, The New York Times Sunday Magazine, The Vegas Dog, Las Vegas Magazine, Cat Fancy, and What's On to name a few. Gregory has also been a guest on The Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Other television appearances include The Penn and Teller Special: Live from Vegas, Thirty Seconds to Fame, and Animal Planet. Gregory and some of his star pets will also be competing in the second season of America's Got Talent. Some of the adorable Popovich cats and dogs can also be seen on the Arm and Hammer Carpet Cleaner commercial.
AND NOW...
The Popovich Comedy Pet Theater has a daily afternoon show at the V Theater, located in the Miracle Mile at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. Additionally, beginning in the summer of 2007, Gregory will present a new children's television miniseries – the Popovich Comedy and Pet Show to Las Vegas. The show will feature the furry four legged performers of the theater show, and of course, Gregory's hilarious physical comedy and juggling skills. Rex the Wonderdog and Sebastian the Cat team up with Gregory in this fun and educational series of exciting adventures and escapades.