During our first Las Vegas stay with the children, we visited Popovich Comedy Pet Theater as guests of the Popovich team. Here’s our honest experience and a practical guide for any family considering adding it to their Vegas plans.
Disclosure: Our family was hosted by the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater team for this experience. We weren’t paid to write this article, and all opinions and experiences shared here are our own.
What it is
Gregory Popovich is a fifth-generation circus performer whose Las Vegas show blends juggling, gymnastics, physical comedy and animal performances.
The stars alongside him are more than 25 rescued animals, including cats, dogs, parrots and a miniature horse. According to the show, the performing pets have been rescued from animal shelters or taken in after being homeless.
The show currently runs for around 70 minutes, which we found was a really good length for younger children. Long enough to feel like a proper afternoon out, but not so long that they started losing interest.
Where and when
Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is held at the V Theater inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.
Address: 3663 Las Vegas Blvd S, Suite 360, Las Vegas.
At the time of writing, performances are scheduled for 2:30pm Tuesday to Saturday, although Vegas show schedules can change, so we’d always check the official website before planning your day around it.
The location also makes it easy to combine the show with something to eat or a wander around the Miracle Mile Shops before or afterwards.
Tickets
At the time of writing, tickets are advertised from around $30, although prices vary depending on the seller, seating and availability.
Rather than relying on a price you’ve seen in an older article, we’d recommend checking the latest prices when you’re ready to book.
Some ticket providers may also have their own collection or check-in requirements, so read the booking details and give yourself plenty of time before the performance.
Our visit
We visited on Saturday 3 October as a party of six, with the children’s grandparents joining us.
The Popovich team hosted us for the afternoon, and after the performance we were also given the opportunity to meet Gregory and some of the animals.
That isn’t something we’d assume is included with a standard ticket, so if a meet-and-greet is important to your family, we’d recommend checking directly with the theatre to see what’s available when you visit.
What we thought
The theatre
It’s a small, intimate theatre, and that actually works in its favour.
You don’t feel miles away from what’s happening on stage, and from what we could see there didn’t appear to be many genuinely bad seats. We found the view perfectly good, and the smaller setting seemed to help keep the children engaged too.
There’s also a restroom inside the theatre, which anyone travelling with young children will appreciate more than they probably expected to.
Eat and drink beforehand
Food and drink aren’t allowed inside the theatre, which helps avoid distracting the animals during the performance.
The show only lasts around 70 minutes, so we didn’t find this a problem at all, but it’s worth making sure younger children have eaten and had a drink before you go in.
With the theatre being inside Miracle Mile Shops, there are plenty of options nearby.
A personal opening
The show begins with a short video explaining some of the story behind Gregory, the theatre and the show itself.
It was a nice touch because it gave some context to what we were about to watch and made the whole experience feel more personal than simply sitting down and waiting for the first act to begin.
The children
Both of ours loved it.
At six and seven, we thought they were a really good age for the show, although there were both younger and older children in the audience.
The performers bring the audience into certain moments, which helped keep them focused on what was happening. Our daughter smiled practically the whole way through.
Unsurprisingly, the animals were the biggest attraction for them. There are plenty of different tricks and routines, but the show constantly changes pace rather than relying on one type of performance for too long.
For a relatively short afternoon show, there was enough going on to keep both children engaged from beginning to end.
The animals
This was something we were particularly interested in seeing for ourselves.
During the show, Gregory talks about some of the animals and shares snippets about where they came from, including animals rescued from shelters or taken in after being homeless.
From what we observed during our visit, the animals appeared well cared for. They were regularly rewarded with treats and given plenty of affection, and we saw lots of relaxed behaviour and wagging tails from the dogs.
It didn’t feel to us as though affection for the animals stopped when they weren’t actively performing.
That’s obviously only our impression from one afternoon, and we’d always encourage families to do their own research when deciding whether an animal-based attraction is right for them.
But it was something we were conscious of before attending, and what we saw during our visit was reassuring.
Photography and filming
This is worth clarifying because our visit was hosted.
Current guidance for regular performances says cameras and audio or video recording devices aren’t permitted during the show.
We had arrangements with the Popovich team as part of our collaboration, so families visiting independently shouldn’t assume that filming you’ve seen from our visit means the same rules apply to every ticket holder.
Always follow the photography and filming instructions given by the theatre on the day.
Meeting Gregory
After the show, we were lucky enough to meet Gregory himself, the comedian, circus performer and animal trainer at the heart of the whole thing.
We also met some of the animals, including a couple of the cats, one of the dogs and the parrot. The children had a little time to interact with them, which was probably one of their favourite parts of the afternoon.
Our family was also given a programme and a copy of a book Gregory has written about training cats and dogs, while the children received colouring books.
But what stood out more than the gifts was how interested Gregory was in what the children actually thought.
He asked them what their favourite parts had been, what they thought could have been better and whether they’d got bored at any point.
It wasn’t simply a quick photograph and goodbye.
He genuinely seemed interested in whether the show had worked for them, and as parents that was a really positive thing to see.
We also finally got to meet Anastasia from the Popovich team, who had helped arrange our visit before we arrived in Las Vegas.
Everyone we dealt with was welcoming and friendly, and the whole experience was handled brilliantly from start to finish.
Tips for families
- Don’t stress too much about seating. It’s an intimate theatre and we found the view good from where we were.
- Check the photography rules. Our visit was hosted and we had arrangements with the team. Standard ticket holders should follow the theatre’s current filming and photography policy.
- Eat and drink beforehand. You can’t take food or drinks into the theatre, but at around 70 minutes the show is easy enough to manage.
- Pair it with Miracle Mile Shops. There are plenty of places to eat and other things to do nearby, so you can easily make an afternoon of it.
- It’s good for a calmer Vegas day. After late nights and long days exploring the Strip, a 70-minute afternoon show was a really easy family plan.
- There’s no need to dress up. It’s a relaxed family show, so come comfortable.
Would we recommend Popovich Comedy Pet Theater with kids?
Yes, particularly for families with younger children.
Las Vegas can be full-on. Huge hotels, late nights, enormous attractions and a lot of walking.
This was different.
It was indoors, relatively short, easy to get to and kept both of our children entertained throughout without consuming an entire day.
More importantly, it gave them something in Vegas that felt completely aimed at them.
We’d happily recommend putting it on the list if you’re visiting Las Vegas with kids.
What else is possible when a Las Vegas afternoon is about rescued pets rather than the casino floor?
FAQ
Is Popovich Comedy Pet Theater suitable for young children?
Yes. It’s an all-ages family show, and we found the length and pace particularly well suited to younger children. Ours, aged six and seven, stayed engaged throughout.
How long does Popovich Comedy Pet Theater last?
The current Las Vegas show runs for approximately 70 minutes.
Where is Popovich Comedy Pet Theater?
It’s at the V Theater inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Las Vegas Boulevard.
Are the animals treated well?
The show says its performing pets are rescued animals, and Gregory shares some of their stories during the performance. During our visit, the animals appeared well cared for, regularly received treats and affection, and looked relaxed to us. That’s our observation from one visit rather than a wider assessment, so we’d encourage families to do their own research too.
Can you take photographs or videos during the show?
Current guidance says cameras and audio/video recording devices aren’t permitted during regular performances. Our visit was part of a hosted collaboration with arrangements made directly with the Popovich team.
Can you take food and drink into the theatre?
No. Food and drinks aren’t permitted inside the theatre, so we’d recommend eating and drinking beforehand.
Is meeting Gregory and the animals included with a normal ticket?
Our meet-and-greet was part of our hosted visit, so we wouldn’t assume it’s included with a standard ticket. Check directly with the theatre for current meet-and-greet options.
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