(LifeWire) - Location: V Theater in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood
3667 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Las Vegas, Nev. 89109
Phone: (866) 504-0044, (702) 260-7200
Website: http://www.comedypet.com/
About Popovich Comedy Pet Theater: It begins with a series of cats crisscrossing on tightropes, as loud meows fill the theater. Then the tuxedo-clad emcee steps up to the microphone to introduce the show. Only this isn't just any emcee. It's a dog.
The show escalates into a European circus, complete with clowns, contortionists, jugglers, daredevil feats and more. It's all an extension of Russian-born Gregory Popovich, whose parents were circus performers and animal trainers. Gregory was juggling by age 6 and had his first solo performance at age 14, juggling on a ladder. At 17, he joined the famous Moscow Circus, and traveled the world. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey brought him to the United States in 1990, and two years later he made his way to Las Vegas, where he incorporated his own kitten into his show at Circus Circus. The stunt earned him spots on late-night talk shows, and he expanded his brood and took his cats on tour around the world. Eventually, he brought dogs, doves and even rats into his show. He's been performing at the V Theater in Las Vegas since June 2006.
During the show, Popovich reveals that his father wanted him to be a juggler. He preferred making people laugh, and wanted to be a clown. That's just what he does onstage, smearing on face paint and reddening his nose. In addition to his team of trained animals, Popovich's variety show includes acts by his wife and daughter.
While the circus feats are impressive, the pets are the heart of the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater. Poodles, boxers, mutts, cats, rats - even a fur coat full of ferrets graces the stage. A cat pushes a dog sitting in a baby carriage; a dog dressed in an elephant costume rides on a locomotive; cats jump over dogs, dogs jump over cats - the animals do just about everything!
Perhaps the most impressive feat of all is that Popovich rescued his animals (10 dogs and 15 cats) from animal shelters. By saving their lives and training these pets, his goal is to inspire the audience to do the same: accept abandoned animals into their homes.
Schedule: Thursdays at 5:30 p.m.; Friday through Monday at 4 p.m.
Tickets for Popovich Comedy Pet Theater: Children's prices begin at $15 and adults begin at $35 (dinner packages are also available). This is a great show to take kids to, but adults will also enjoy it.
Looking for tickets to a show in Las Vegas? Try Best of Vegas and compare prices on shows in Las Vegas before you get into town.
Transportation: The Deuce is a double-decker bus that runs from the Strip to downtown 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and stops at the Riviera. At its peak, The Deuce leaves every six minutes (in slow periods, buses may leave up to 20 minutes apart); single rides cost $2 and an all-day pass is $5. Cabs are another option if you don't have a car; call Yellow/Checker/Star (702-873-2000), Whittlesea/Blue Cab (702-384-6111), Desert Cab Company (702-386-9102), or Western Cab Company (702-736-8000).
