Comedy festival gearing up for its third year

Kermet Apio — the winner of the stand-up comedy competition at the 2009 Great American Comedy Festival in Norfolk — says he can hardly wait to be part of the 2010 festival this June.

Apparently, he’s not the only one.

Festival organizers say they’re working on the final details of a development designed to help ensure the continued existence of the festival.

“Our expectation is that we should be able to announce some details next week that we are truly excited about,” said Lora Young, executive director of the festival.

The festival, which will mark its third year this summer, is designed to honor the legacy of the late Johnny Carson, the king of late-night comedy who grew up in Norfolk.

The festival also helps bring visitors to Norfolk, thereby providing an economic boost to the community, while also providing the kind of entertainment not often found in the Midwest, Young said.

This year’s festival will run from Wednesday, June 16, through Sunday, June 20.

Apio will host the preliminary rounds of competition among 20 of the nation’s top up-and-coming comedians on Thursday, June 17, and Friday, June 18.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said recently.

The festival also will be hosting four preliminary amateur competitions in Norfolk, Lincoln and Grand Island yet this month and in March. All four competitions filled up quickly among aspiring comedians, Young said, and those chosen by audience members as favorites will advance to the festival’s amateur competition finals on Wednesday, June 16.

The first amateur night is set for Saturday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. at Divots in Norfolk. Hosting will be comedian Troy Baxley of Denver, one of the finalists from last year’s professional stand-up competition.

“It should be great fun,” Young said.