NORFOLK, Neb. -- More comedians have been announced for the Great American Comedy Festival's big return.

After two years off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival returns to the Johnny Carson Theatre June 16-18. The festival opened in 2008 to honor the legacy of Norfolk’s favorite son, Johnny Carson, who was host of NBC’s Late Night Show Starring Johnny Carson for over 25 years.

The festival kicks off Thursday with the family Comedy Magic Show. Friday night’s entertainment includes the Comedy Showcase at the theatre and the /Sparklight Adults Only, Late Night Show at 10:30 at The Stables in Norfolk. Saturday’s Festival Gala with the Smothers Brothers as headliners and four other comics concludes the three-day event.

Festival organizers announced the completion of the Friday night lineup, with four comedians joining Friday headliner David Koechner, who is known for his work on The Office, Saturday Night Live and Anchorman. 

Stand-up comedians Cat Alvarado, Sophie Buddle, Chris Lewis, and Glen Tickle will also perform at the Comedy Showcase alongside Koechner.

The LA-based Alvarado covers relatable topics like parents and dating. She also dives into her views on Latin American geopolitics, including the current crisis in Nicaragua.

Alvarado has over two million views on the YouTube Channel, “The Reel Rejects.” She has also been featured on Buzzfeed's Tasty channel for Facebook and has entertained on the PBS show, “First Nations Comedy Experience.”

Alvarado hosts the comedy podcast, “Villains of History” @villainsofhistory and has performed in some of the top comedy festivals in the country, including Laughing Skull in Atlanta and Big Pine in Flagstaff, AZ.

Buddle, a native of Canada, is a stand-up comedian, TV writer and podcaster. She has appeared as a correspondent and a staff writer on Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC’s) This Hour Has 22 Minutes. She has also been featured on Just for Laughs (JFL) All Access, Kevin Hart's Laugh Out Loud Network, the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, and the Halifax Comedy Festival.

Buddle recently released her first album, Lil Bit of Buddle, found on iTunes in the “easy listening" genre. Her podcast, "Obsessed with Sophie Buddle", was an instant hit and can be seen live at JFL42 in September.

She is also a two-time runner up for Canada's biggest stand-up contest, SiriusXM Top Comic, and headlines across the country.

Lewis, from Los Angeles, has been a regular performer at Second City and Upright Citizens Brigade.

A trained actor who studied at the prestigious John Ruskin School of Acting, Lewis is proficient in the Meisner technique of acting. He has been seen at The Comedy Store, The Hollywood Comedy, The Pasadena Comedy, and Improv City, to name a few.

Lewis stars in the short film, Not Just Meena, and has been in many local and national commercials. 

Tickle is a comedian based in New Jersey. His work has appeared on Dry Bar Comedy, SiriusXM and Cozi TV.

Tickle describes his comedy as a focus on his family life, pop culture and how good he is at the video game, “Dr. Mario.” He has released his album (Yes, Really) and a special about comedy and death titled Good Grief on Amazon.

Four more comedians will be announced shortly, with the Saturday night gala performance lineup coming soon, according to festival organizers.