Popovich Comedy Pet Theater Comes to Morrison Center, 12/16

As part of the 2012-2013 Velma V. Morrison Family Theatre Series the Morrison Center welcomes World-famous Gregory Popovich and his sensational Comedy Pet Theater on December 16, 2012 at 2:00 PM.

They are again wowing audiences around the country with a unique combination of rescue-pet performers and eye-popping juggling. Popovich provides not-stop fun for all ages with his award-winning show featuring a cast of talented cats and dogs rescued from animal shelters and transformed into stars. The Circus Fans Association of America has even awarded Popovich its 2009 Entertainer of the Year award for his "unique and most enjoyable performance."

During the past four years of producing his popular shows at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Popovich created a number of new acts, such a Pet Fire Marshals, Dog Football, Dr. Doolittle and Funny Geese, that he's now ready to take on the road. "I am touring again because I would like to share those talented new pets with new audiences around the U.S.," said Popovich.

Popovich's Comedy Pet Theater is a perfect family show and will surprise and delight every audience. Sell-out shows and record breaking crowds have greeted the Comedy Pet Theater in places like Fresno and Eureka, Calif., Eugene, Bend and Klamath Falls, Ore., and Kirkland, Wash.

There is more than meets the eye with the Comedy Pet Theater. For Gregory Popovich, the show is animated by a deep love of cats and dogs and a very serious, life-long commitment to helping rescued pets.

"One of the main massages of my show is to bring attention for animal shelters, and the many homeless pets and rescue efforts out there. Because all my pets in my shows have been rescued by animal shelters, I feel it's my mission to 'payback' animal shelters and try to help other pets if I have this opportunity."

Popovich is anxious to work with programs in the areas he visits to help them raise awareness and funds for their pet rescue efforts, much like what came from his partnership with Greenhill Humane Society in Eugene, Or.

For more information on Gregory Popovich's Comedy Pet Theater, visit comedypet.com.

Tickets for the December show are $14.50 & $29.50. Pricing does not include applicable fees. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, September 4th at 10:00 a.m. and are available at the Morrison Center Box Office, all Select-a-Seat outlets, online at IdahoTickets.com or by calling (208) 426-1110.

Gregory Popovich and his extraordinary pet partners have been featured on the Tonight Show, Late Show with David Letterman, America's Got Talent and Discovery Channel's Animal Planet. Gregory currently is busy with a number of projects outside of his live show, including promoting his new book "You CAN Train Your Cat" and producing additional episodes of his new television show "Comedy Pets."

Gregory grew up as the child of Russian circus performers Alex and Tamara Popovich. In addition to their juggling and performing skills, Gregory's parents also were dog trainers. From a very young age, Gregory formed a special bond with animals, especially his mother's show dogs, which led to his participation onstage assisting with her 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 this feat, Gregory became a member of the great Moscow Circus Group at the age of 17.

For the next few years, Gregory traveled the world with the Moscow Circus, eventually becoming the star of the circus and its representative at international circus competitions worldwide. During this time, Gregory completed a special five-year course and earned the degree of "Circus Creator and Producer."

Gregory was then invited to join the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus in the United States. He performed his juggling act in the center ring, becoming the first Russian artist to ever appear in the "Greatest Show on Earth."

Las Vegas was the next stop for Gregory where he became the featured performer at the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino. During his show there, he fatefully incorporated the family kitten, Snowbird, in his 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. A friend encouraged Gregory to visit an animal shelter to look for cats that could become the additional performing pets. Upon his first visit to an animal shelter, 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, introduce them as a part of his show. This is the beginning of Gregory's life-long commitment to helping rescued animals and the Comedy Pet Theater.

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