Blinn College is bringing the incredible talents of Moscow Circus veteran Gregory Popovich and his extraordinary performing pets to Brenham’s Dr. W.W. O’Donnell Performing Arts Center as part of its 2016-17 Performing Arts Series.
Blinn will present the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater at 7pm Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Dr. W.W. O’Donnell Performing Arts Center.
The Popovich Comedy Pet Theater brings entertainment for the entire family, featuring the unique blend of comedy and juggling skills of former Moscow Circus veteran Gregory Popovich and the extraordinary talents of his performing pets. A fifth-generation circus performer who learned early on how to develop strong bonds with animals, Popovich has rescued a majority of his performers from shelters all over the country and transformed them into Las Vegas stars.
His entourage consists of world-class jugglers, Diamond the Shetland Pony, the German goat duo Kurt and Helga, and more than 30 performing pets, including house cats and dogs rescued from animal shelters, geese, white doves, and parrots. All the show’s pets are trained using positive reinforcement techniques.
“Comedy Pet Theater is like a Cirque show with animals,” USA Today wrote.
Popovich came to the United States when Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus brought him in as its first Russian performer. Popovich and his wife Izolda performed with their pet cat, and the incredible positive response inspired Popovich to create a show starring trained cats and dogs.
The Popovich Comedy Pet Theater has presented thousands of shows in more than 20 countries, and currently is in its sixth season at the Planet Hollywood Resort/Casino in Las Vegas. Popovich’s 2014 independent film, “Popovich and the Voice of the Fabled American West,” recently won the Audience Choice Award at the 17th annual Dance with Films Festival in Los Angeles, and the show has been featured on Jay Leno, David Letterman, Animal Planet, CNN, and NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”
Tickets can be purchased online at www.blinn.edu/boxoffice or by calling the Blinn Box Office at (979) 830-4024. Seating is reserved for all performances.
Individual tickets are $30 for the public and $15 for children 10 and under. Blinn employees can purchase up to four tickets per performance for $20, and students can purchase one ticket per performance for $10. Groups of 10 or more receive a $4 discount per ticket when purchased together.
Prior to the show, Blinn’s Division of Visual/Performing Arts & Kinesiology will host a pet food drive. Patrons who donate dog or cat food prior to the show will be entered into a raffle for a pair of free tickets to the next show in Blinn’s Performing Arts Series, the song-and-dance spectacular “Live from Nashville” at 4pm Sunday, April 2. Proceeds will benefit True Blue Animal Rescue and the City of Brenham Animal Shelter. Donors will receive one raffle entry for each item donated.
For more information, visit www.blinn.edu/performingartsseries.
