NORFOLK, Neb. — Norfolk is gearing up for a weekend of laughter as the Great American Comedy Festival returns, honoring the legendary Johnny Carson with a lineup of magicians and comedians.

The festival kicks off Thursday, June 12, with a comedy magic show featuring three talented magicians. Friday, June 13, introduces headliner James Austin Johnson, a cast member from "Saturday Night Live" known for his impersonation of President Trump.

"Later Friday night," said Great American Comedy Festival Board President Pat Janssen, "there will be a late-night bar show at the District Event Center, and that's the only show with no content restrictions; everything else has to be clean."

The festival continues Saturday, June 14, with Yakov Smirnoff, whose career took off after appearing on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson."

News Channel Nebraska's Hanky Q. Hazelton caught up with James Austin Johnson to get a sneak peek of what audiences can expect.

"I think that there are some people who might be really big fans of his who might go, 'Oh, is he making fun of them?'" Johnson said. "I don't know if I like that, but the minute you watch what I do, I think all of that melts away. You know, the other night I did an impression of Kamala Harris, and I pretended to be Kamala Harris talking as if she was the judge on a cooking competition. All I'm trying to do with my impressions is just make people laugh."

Behind the scenes, a dedicated team works to ensure the festival runs smoothly. The production crew shared a glimpse into their 5-to-10-hour days.

"It depends on the magicians, depends on their color, and it depends on their special effects," said Great American Comedy Festival Stage Manager Layne Roth. "The video strings hundreds of feet of cable to make sure we can use the side screens as televisions. The [theater] is pretty well set up because Johnny Carson has a lot of sound already ready to go."

"We have a few 100 lights orchestrated throughout the stage so we can get the Johnny Carson rainbow-colored look he always had on his sets," said Great American Comedy Festival Production Coordinator Timothy Miller. "That way when you walk in, the audience's attention is drawn to the performers, so the performers look good, and it's a good viewing experience for everybody in the house."

Janssen emphasized the festival's diverse appeal. "I think what's really great about the Great American Comedy Festival is we have magic, comedians, and comedians of a lot of different types and styles. So, really, there's kind of something for everybody if they want to come to the Johnny Carson Theatre and experience a great weekend."

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

For tickets and information, visit www.greatamericancomedyfestival.com