The City of Irvine with Irvine Barclay Theatre present
Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 1pm & 6pm
This performance is presented without an intermission.
FAMILY SERIES SPONSOR
Gregory Popovich, the producer and star of Popovich Comedy Pet Theater, along with his ensemble of 30 rescued, four-legged performers, has toured extensively across the United States and around the globe. For the past 15 years, the show has been a highlight at the V Theater inside Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
Comedy Pet Theater is a family-friendly blend of theatrical circus and unique physical comedy, showcasing the incredible talents of Gregory’s rescued animals, all saved from shelters across the country and given a second chance at life as Las Vegas stars. During the live performance, audiences are treated to acts like the Dog Classroom, the Amazing House Cats, and the Animal Train Station. The show also features surprise appearances from more animal performers,
including trained doves, parrots, goats, and even a miniature horse named Diamond. In addition to the animal performances, there are acrobats, mimes, contortionists, and jaw-dropping juggling acts by Gregory Popovich, an internationally acclaimed award-winning juggler. Gregory, recognized as one of the top three jugglers in the world, holds the world record for juggling nine rings while balancing atop a nine-foot free-standing ladder.
A lifelong advocate for animal rights, Gregory has supported fundraisers for animal shelters and neutering programs nationwide. His show promotes responsible pet adoption through public service announcements, using the rescued animals as ambassadors for shelter pets. “When people see these amazing, healthy animals on stage and choose to adopt from a shelter themselves, my main message has reached the audience,” says Popovich, who grew up backstage at circuses where his parents performed, often with only animals as his companions. He developed a close bond with the dogs and cats, learning to communicate with them through words, signals, and body language—a skill he likens to Mowgli from The Jungle Book.
Today, the animals in Comedy Pet Theater live in comfort as part of Gregory and his wife Izolda’s extended household in Las Vegas. Those who retire from the stage enjoy a pampered life in their later years. As a master animal trainer, Gregory uses positive reinforcement techniques, training each animal based on its natural behaviors. He has shared his expertise in two books: You CAN Train Your Cat: Secrets of a Master Cat Trainer and Doggy Gone Good: A Master’s Guide to Teaching Manners, Tricks and Healthy Habits.
While performing in Las Vegas, Gregory and his animals also starred in a feature film titled Popovich and the Voice of the Fabled American West, a fictional drama about a clown in Las Vegas and the world of show business. The film won the "Audience Choice Award" at the Dances With Films Festival in Los Angeles and was named Las Vegas’ Movie of the Year with the "Excellence in Entertainment" award by Entertainment Consumers' Exchange, Inc., in 2014.