NORFOLK, Neb. -- The 2024 Great American Comedy Festival is shaping up to be among the most hilarious yet!

Frank Caliendo will be headlining the festival’s annual Gala on Saturday, June 15, while Preacher Lawson will headline the Friday night Comedy Showcase on June 14.

A comedian, actor, and impressionist, Caliendo’s impeccable comedic timing and spot-on impressions have been the center of fan-favorite viral video clips, TV shows, radio appearances and live shows for more than 20 years. With an enormous collection of impressions at his command, Frank creates extraordinary comedic situations for our culture’s most famous celebrities, sports figures and political leaders.

Touring non-stop year-round, Frank’s live shows fill theaters with a high energy blend of observations, impressions, characters and stories for fans of all ages. Frank had a three-year residency at The Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, performed at the prestigious Radio-Television Correspondents Dinner in Washington D.C., was featured in two Super Bowl Pre-Game shows and an MTV football pregame show with Jimmy Kimmel.

“Frank has been to Norfolk before, but this is his first time in the festival,” said GACF Executive Director Pat Janssen. “He’s someone who’s been at the top of the comedy game for a long time, someone who comedians and non-comedians love, as made evident by his frequent forays into the sports world. He’s such a phenomenal performer and writer, both in stand-up and sketch. Getting someone of his caliber is huge for us.”

Frank was a regular on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown, and makes appearances on SportsCenter and other ESPN shows. He recently starred in the ad campaign for Monday Night Football with Peyton & Eli and his Super Bowl Richard Sherman 30 for 30 mocumentary, and his “#IfTrumpWere” parodies have all gone viral. Prior to working with ESPN, Frank spent 10 years on Fox NFL Sunday Pregame.

Frank starred in his own TBS TV series, Frank TV, his own hour-long TBS special, Frank Caliendo: All Over The Place, and the half-hour special, Comedy Central Presents: Frank Caliendo. He was a cast member on the Fox TV series MADtv for five years, and he has been a guest over 20 times combined on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show and The Late Show.

Preacher Lawson is best known for his appearance on season 12 of NBC’s hit series, America’s Got Talent (2017) where he made it to the final round. Based off his stellar performance in season 12, Lawson was invited to compete on America’s Got Talent: The Champions (2019) and Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions (2019) where he advanced to the finale after receiving the most fan votes. Most recently he was handpicked by Howie Mandell to participate in America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League (2024).

“When you think of all of the great comedic performers who have been on America’s Got Talent, including several who have been at our festival, it’s really saying something that Preacher Lawson was recently told he’s had the best stand-up set ever on the show,” Janssen said. “The fact that the show keeps bringing him back is a testament to the level of comedian he is, and I feel incredibly fortunate that he’s going to be a part of our festival.”

Lawson shot his first stand-up special, Get to Know Me, which premiered on BET+ in 2019, then Amazon. His most recent special My Name is Preacher is set to be released globally on YouTube on Mar. 14, 2024.

In Television, Lawson can be seen on HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, Tournament of Laughs on TBS, as well as NBC’s Connecting as a series regular. He also hosted the Facebook Watch series World’s Most Amazing Dogs (2019) with George Lopez and Lisa Vanderpump.

The festival kicks off Thursday, June 13, with the traditional family Comedy Magic Show. All three shows are at 7 p.m. at the Johnny Carson Theatre.

The Great American Comedy Festival is also made possible with the support of the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. The annual 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.

“This is a festival put together entirely by a board of volunteers,” Janssen said. “We all do it because we love it. This is a town and an area with a rich history of comedy, and I love that so many people are doing what they can to keep that alive, whether it’s through our festival or otherwise. This festival is a celebration of those efforts and the comedic blood that pumps through the veins of Norfolk. I’m incredibly grateful for the community members, as well as the comedians taking the time to come to our home area. That love and commitment are what make this area, and this festival, special.”

Tickets for the festival are on sale now! For tickets and information, visit www.greatamericancomedyfestival.com.