JOHNNY PEERS and the Muttville Comix take the stage at the Chocolate Church Arts Center, located at 804 Washington St. in Bath on Saturday at 2p.m.
Tails will be wagging and hands will be clapping when Johnny Peers and the Muttville Comix take the stage at the Chocolate Church Arts Center, located at 804 Washington St. in Bath on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Adults and children are invited to watch the tricks and slap-stick routines of a four-legged troupe of comedians, including Noodles, the world’s only skateboarding Basset Hound; Murphy, the ladder climbing Fox Terrier; and Willy, the Border Collie who only answers to “Sir.”
“Johnny Peers’ love for comedy and dogs is the perfect combination of family entertainment,” said Jennifer DeChant, the Chocolate Church executive director.
“We scheduled this show during April school break for a special stay-cation event that the whole family will enjoy.”
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Johnny Peers learned the ropes of traveling show business at an early age, while working for his father who was a concessionaire at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He attended Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Clown College, where he graduated in 1969. He became a member of The Greatest Show On Earth’s Clown Alley and witnessed routines performed with dogs, prompting him to develop his own comedy dog act.
In 1972, he adopted his first dog, Freckles, from the Human Society. Freckles was the first of a collection of 15 mutts rescued from animal shelters all over the country.
This group of canines would form Johnny Peers’ original Muttville Comix troupe.
The Muttville Comix performed all over North and South America, and in Europe with such circuses as Circus Krone in Germany, Circus Maximum in Sweden, and Circus Conelly in Switzerland.
In the U.S., The Muttville Comix were featured with Ringling Bros, and Barnum & Bailey, with the Big Apple Circus on three occasions (1992, 1996, 2006), and with every leading circus and variety shows in the country. In 2003, The Muttville Comix were named Animal Planet Pet Stars Champions by the popular TV channel Animal Planet.
Peers and his pups will form at the Chocolate Church Arts Center Saturday, April 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15, and $10 for children under 12. Tickets are available by calling (207) 442-8455 or visit chocolatechurcharts.org.
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