Theater Watch: Pet Comedy, The Sounds of Led Zeppelin and Dark Romance

Drama, comedy and classic rock is on the agenda this week for Red Bank’s theaters.

The Count Basie Theatre hosts the World Famous Popovich Comedy Pet Theater on Friday, May 20th, and Get the Led Out: The American Led Zeppelin on Saturday, May 21st.

If you’re more in the mood for some serious drama, head to Two River Theater for a performance of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, their latest production based on the music of Jacques Brel. 

If family fun is what you are after, head to Count Basie on Friday, May 20th and check out the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater. The unique act blends comedy and juggling by comedian Gregory Popovich and the amazing talents of his many pets.

Popovich is an award winning star of the Moscow Circus and World Champion Juggler, and his show was voted “Best New Family Show” when it first premiered at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. 

Since its opening,  Comedy Pet Theater has been featured on The Tonight Show, The Late Show with David Letterman and America’s Got Talent.

The show includes 15 cats and 10 dogs, all of which were rescued from animal shelters and trained in a variety of skills that make them a delight for all ages.

These talented pets perform various acts; including jumping through hoops and pushing each other in carriages while Popovich delights the crowd with serious juggling and balancing skills.

If you want to let go and rock out, head to Count Basie on Saturday, May 21st for a performance by Get the Led Out: The American Led Zeppelin.

Get the Led Out, performing for the first time at Count Basie, is a group of professional musicians who bring the music of Led Zeppelin to life in their own, distinct style.

 Get the Led Out does not consider themselves an “impersonator” act, and instead describes their mission as “a group of musicians who were fans first and strive to do justice to one of the greatest bands in rock history.”

Based in Philadelphia, Get the Led Out is made up of six musicians who bring to life the music of Led Zeppelin in a two hour show that includes songs that Led Zeppelin never performed live.  Their first time performance at Count Basie is sure to be a memorable one.

If you are craving dark drama this week, head over to Two River Theater. This week, Two River Theater gears up for their latest production, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. The play, which is described as “naughty, funny, dark, and romantic,” is a revue of the work of singer-songwriter Jacques Brel.

Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer-songwriter who composed and recorded songs in French. Although not very well known in America, Brel’s songs have been interpreted by other famous artists such as Judy Collins and David Bowie.  Throughout his career, Brel sold over 25 million records worldwide.

Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris brings the songs to life onstage in a performance that The New York Times calls “a potent mixture of romanticism and cynicism, world-weariness and jaunty whimsy.”

The show begins on Tuesday, May 17th, 2011 and runs through Sunday, June 5th, 2011. All music is by Jacques Brel and it is directed by Daniel Ostling.

For tickets to The Popovich Comedy Pet Theater or Get the Led Out, visithttp://www.countbasietheatre.org/. To find out more about Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, visit http://www.trtc.org/

• Friday, May 20th, 2011: The Popovich Comedy Pet Theater at 7:30pm
• Saturday, May 21st, 2011: Get The Led Out at 8pm
• Tuesday, May 17th through June 5th, 2011: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris(please visit website for show times)