Animal circus

The stage, usually reserved for dance performances and Broadway musicals, will be overrun by furry, four-legged entertainers as the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater presents an evening of animal attractions.

Think of a traveling circus, but the clowns and acrobats have been swapped out with cats and dogs. There is even an elephant — well, a dog in an elephant suit at least.

Gregory Popovich, producer and human star of Popovich Comedy Pet Theater, comes from a long line of Russian circus performers.

“I grew up in a circus family,” said Popovich. “I’m a fourthgeneration circus performer.”

Popovich grew up around animal trainers, so working with animals seemed a perfect fit as he developed his own act.

“My mom trained dogs,” he said.

“When I grew up, it was natural to communicate with animals.”

Popovich’s traveling menagerie includes over 30 performing pets, including dogs, geese, a miniature horse and a clowder of trained housecats. Yes, you read that correctly. Trained housecats.

“Putting cats on stage, that’s a real ‘wow’ moment,” said Popovich.

As any cat owner can attest, our feline friends can be stubborn and hard to work with.

“I used to train dogs,” said Popovich. “When I started training cats, it was difficult. Cats are very independent.”

The breakthrough, Popovich said, came when he realized that he could tap into the cats’ innate talents.

“Each cat has a trick. They do it naturally, voluntarily,” explained Popovich. “When I find out what the cat likes to do naturally, I build the trick around that.”

One cat in the show loves to climb, while another one jumps. Popovich incorporates those into the show, creating impressive climbing and jumping tricks for his feline co-stars. And while the pets are the focus of the show, there is a human component to the stage show as well.

“It’s not only a pet show,” explained Popovich.

A team of “nine well-trained Russians,” as Popovich jokingly referred to them, will perform a variety of acts, including juggling, balancing acts, acrobatics and physical comedy.

“Whether you like the circus, or comedy or pets, there is something for you,” said Popovich.

All of the animals in Popovich’s performance were rescued from animal shelters. Part of the show’s mission, he said, is to raise awareness about animals looking for a permanent home.

“If people go to an animal shelter to adopt a pet after our show, that is a success,” he said.

Popovich Comedy Pet Theater

7 p.m. Friday, May 8 $25-35/$75 family of four Charlotte Performing Arts Center 378 State St., Charlotte (517) 541-5690, cpacpresents.com.

FRIDAY, MAY 8-9 & MAY 15-17 >> ‘CAMELOT’ AT STARLIGHT DINNER THEATRE

The “Once and Future King,” Arthur Pendragon, is known for assembling Theater a round table of knights and his meditations on bringing lasting peace to  England, but did you also know he’s also an amazing singer? The Starlight Dinner Theatre presents a melodious take on the legendary monarch with the musical “Camelot.” In the show, King Arthur must protect his kingdom from the nefarious Mordred. Unfortunately, Arthur is having a hard enough time keeping his round table in order, especially since his prized knight, Lancelot, is having an affair with his beloved wife Guenevere. Along with the musical, guests can enjoy a feast fit for a king, featuring a main course of chicken breast in apricot sauce. 6:30 p.m. dinner, 7;30 p.m. show Friday- Saturday; desserts 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. show Sunday. $39/$36 seniors. Waverly East Intermediate School, 3131 W. Michigan Ave., Lansing. (517) 243-6040, starlightdinnertheatre.com.

FRIDAY, MAY 8-10 & MAY 15-17 >> ‘THE LYONS’ AT RIVERWALK THEATRE

Riverwalk Theatre presents an unlikely pairing of comedy and cancer Theater with its production of “The Lyons.” In the play, a dysfunctional family gathers at a hospital where Ben Lyons, the father of the family, is dying of cancer. The tragedy of Ben’s dying only proves a catalyst for what unfolds next for the Lyons family in this darkly cartoonish play. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. $12/$10 students and seniors. Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Dr., Lansing. (517) 482-5700, riverwalktheatre.com.

FRIDAY, MAY 8-9 >> THE TENNESSEE BLUES

Theater First semester students in Lansing Community College’s theater program will be “playing” the blues in a collection of one-act plays by Tennessee Williams. Director Andy Callis is interested in how themes from Williams’ plays are similar to elements found in the blues, including railroads, mattresses, death, beer and prostitutes. “Like the blues, these plays open up questions about greater truths and older questions,” Callis said. The plays featured in the production are “The Lady of Larkspur Lotion,” “Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen…,” “Something Unspoken,” “This Property Is Condemned,” “The Long Goodbye,” and a scene from “The Glass Menagerie.” 8 p.m. FREE. Black Box Theatre, Lansing Community College Gannon Building, room 168, 422 N. Grand River Ave., Lansing. lcc.edu/showinfo.

SATURDAY, MAY 9 >> YOUNG PLAYWRIGHT’S FESTIVAL

Theater The young actors of All-of-us Express Children’s Theatre present three plays written by budding local playwrights with its Young Playwright’s Festival. The three young writers featured were mentored through the script development process by All-of-us Express’ artistic director, Sarah Willis, with their work culminating in the evening’s performance. The first play, “The Journeys of Miss Pepper,” by 11-year old Abby Murray, and tells the harrowing journey of Pepper as she searches for her father. Next is “The Fairy Tale Book,” by 12-year old Ava Brewer, in which iconic fairy tale characters implore Daisy to be the fairy tale world’s next caretaker. Lastly, “Our Binding Flaws,” by 12 year-old Audrey Tieman, deals with a widow who speaks with embodiments of love, life and death to overcome her grief. The Young Playwright’s Festival will be a one night only performance. 7 p.m. $7/$5 youth. East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road, East Lansing. allofusexpress.org.

SATURDAY, MAY 9 >> CAWLM ‘80S FLASHBACK FUNDRAISER

The Capital Area Women’s Lifestyle Magazine is garnering donations for the future while throwing a bash from the past with its ‘80s Flashback Fundraiser. The fundraiser will feature signature ‘80s attractions, including live music by ‘80s cover band Starfarm and an opportunity to get your hair “eightified” by stylists from Salon de Lordes. The evening will also include food, beverages and a silent auction featuring ‘80s memorabilia and pop culture art. The fundraiser also serves as occasion for CAWLM to announce its annual “Caring About Women” award winner. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan. 7 p.m. $30/$50 couple. University Club of MSU, 3435 forest Road, East Lansing. cawlm.com.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 >> CHRISTINE HA AT PECKHAM INC.

Christine Ha, blind chef and author of “Recipes From My Home Kitchen,” will give a presentation at Peckham Inc. as part of its Spring Speaker Series. Ha rose to fame in 2012 when she won season three of the amateur cooking competition show “Masterchef USA,” beating out over 30,000 home cooks and earning praise from foul-mouthed celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey. Ha has gone on to become a New York Times bestselling author and travels the world giving cooking demonstrations and speaking on her achievements. Ha will speak at Peckham on her accomplishments and how she overcame her handicap. 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. FREE. Peckham Inc., 3510 Capital City Blvd., Lansing. (517) 492-8105, peckham.org.