KOECHNER, FOUR OTHER COMEDIANS SET TO APPEAR AT COMEDY SHOWCASE

(NORFOLK, NE.) – Plans continue for the return of the Great American Comedy Festival presented by Nucor Steel Nebraska, Nucor Cold Finish Nebraska, Nucor Detailing Center, and Vulcraft Nebraska.
The 13th festival is set for Thursday through Saturday, June 16-18, at 7 p.m. at the Johnny Carson Theatre in Norfolk. 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.
David Koechner, best known for his roles as Todd Packer on “The Office” and Champ Kind from “Anchorman” and “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues,” will headline the Comedy Showcase Friday. Stand-up comedians Cat Alvarado, Sophie Buddle, Chris Lewis, and Glen Tickle will also perform at the Comedy Showcase.
Stand-up comedian and activist Cat 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.
Canadian Sophie Buddle 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.
Chris Lewis, from Los Angeles, is a graduate of the Yale of improv, Second City. He also studied at Upright Citizen’s Brigade (the Harvard of improv schools) and has written and performed in over 100 improv shows and festivals.
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. He performs often with his improv group, Bernie Mac and Cheese, which some have called the “In Living Color” of improv groups. He describes himself as a fan of comedy and a lover of good times!
Glen Tickle is a comedian based in New Jersey, where he says he lives with his wife, children and, for some reason, a bunch of chickens. 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.” His favorite movie is “Buckaroo Banzai.” He said he would like to play the character "New Jersey" in the eventual remake of the film.
The Great American Comedy Festival is also made possible with the support of the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. For tickets and information, visit www.greatamericancomedyfestival.com