Time: All Day
Price: Free
Contact: (800) 648-5010
He's one of Circus Circus's legendary entertainers and this July J.R. Johns returns to the stage, but not without his gang of canines. Johns and his hilarious hounds will make their 2008 Reno debut on the Midway Stage July 1, complete with new, cheek-hurting comedy, mind-boggling acrobatics and jaw-dropping magic. Johns and his 23 rescued dogs, which he lovingly refers to as "the guys," will no doubt impress audiences of all ages.
Johns returns to Reno after a stint in Las Vegas where he was challenged with bringing a fun and unique concept to the entertainment scene. Forget the pawed high-fives and the sit and stay commands - Johns managed to train his best friends to perform handstands, jump rope, and even acrobatics to create an hour of pranks and non-stop action as the pooches took on the roles of various characters with Johns as the butt of it all for the Las Vegas show.
"The dogs really do some amazing things," said Mike Weatherford of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "In the era of computer-generated movie animation, it takes an extra second to realize you're really seeing a dog walking a dog -- upright on its hind legs, with leash and all."
It's a skill any dog can learn, according to Johns. "It's about repetition and reward, repetition and reward," Johns said. "It's really a fun process. You'll all of a sudden see the light bulb go off in their head and from there - the sky is the limit."
Johns discovered his fleet of talent at various local pounds, where he quickly claimed ownership of the homeless pups. From there, he formed a new family and a new mission - bring smiles to the faces of people around the country. Fans aren't the only ones finding joy in their doggone silly personalities. Johns said "the guys" have taught him a thing or two about the lighter side of life.
"I have definitely learned how to roll with the punches. These guys have a lot of spunk and spontaneity. If they don't like something, they won't do it. I just relax, let them run the show and it has proven to be really funny and entertaining," Johns said.
Comedians around the country agree. Johns and "the guys" have been invited to perform on various television shows including "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Show with David Letterman," NBC's "America's Got Talent," and "Animal Planet" just to name a few. Johns said this past spring he was even offered three television shows, but after a lot of thought, he turned them down.
"TV is difficult because of the time constraints. People don't get the same affect as they would if they saw the show live," Johns explained. "Being live on stage is my point of pride. People deserve to see it live because that's where the really cool stuff happens."
Now, everyone has the chance to do just that. Johns said he and all "the guys" are happy to be back in Reno and on the Circus Midway Stage where they have performed professionally since 1982. They spent some time evaluating and freshening up the show, ensuring audiences will be amazed by their new, unseen comedic theatrics. He's hopeful the show will be a success, in a place he doesn't want to leave anytime soon.
"Reno is such a comfortable place to be. The people are nice and the location couldn't be better," Johns said. "Reno is home and it's good to be home."
Show times for Johns and his hounds are available on the mezzanine and in the Midway. For more information, call (800) 648-5010.
