The H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center at Shippensburg University presents POPOVICH COMEDY PET THEATER, Saturday, February 16, 2013, 1 & 4 p.m.
SHIPPENSBURG, PA (January 8, 2013) - The H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center at Shippensburg University presents POPOVICH COMEDY PET THEATER, Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 1 & 4 p.m. Reserved tickets are $18, $15 & $12 and are now on sale. A group discount is available for groups of 20 or more. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Luhrs Center Box Office at 717.477.SHOW (7469) or online at luhrscenter.com.
World-famous Gregory Popovich and his sensational Comedy Pet Theater will again be wowing audiences in Shippensburg with a unique combination of rescue-pet performers and eye-popping juggling. Popovich and his hilarious Comedy Pet Theater last performed for crowds in Shippensburg in March 2011.
Popovich provides not-stop fun for all ages with his award-winning show featuring a cast of talented cat and dogs rescued from animal shelters and transformed into stars. Now, these animals love to show off on-stage by performing a variety of stunts and skits. The Circus Fans Association of America has even awarded Popovich its 2009 Entertainer of the Year award for his "unique and most enjoyable performance."
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, introduced 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.
During recent production of 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 taking 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 Comedy Pet Theater is a perfect family show and will surprise and delight audiences of all ages with an extravaganza of European -style clowns, amazing juggling and balancing acts, and of course, very talented performing pets. But 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 messages 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."
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
For more information on Gregory Popovich's Comedy Pet Theater, please visit www.comedypet.com.
For additional information about the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater performance, or other performances within the 2012-2013 Luhrs Center series, please call the Luhrs Center Box Office at 717.477.SHOW (7469) or visit the Luhrs Center website at www.luhrscenter.com.
About the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center at Shippensburg University
The mission of the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center at Shippensburg University is to support and enhance the University's role in academic and cultural enrichment for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Luhrs Center's 1,500-seat state-of-the-art Grove Theatre is where programs to educate, enlighten and entertain are presented. Benefits of the Center to the region include expanding opportunities to participate in a wide range of cultural programming including full-scale Broadway companies, musical groups, symphonies, dance troupes and internationally known speakers. In addition, it adds options for professional training programs, youth programs and senior citizen programs; attracts regional and national business conferences, professional meetings and planning sessions; and additional visitors to the area which will result in a positive impact on the local and regional economy.
