The wait is over! Gilda's LaughFest has announced the lineup for the 2018 festival.
Headlining acts include Trevor Noah, Tiffany Haddish, Maria Bamford and Cameron Esposito.
While Bamford and Esposito are returning favorites, this is Noah and Haddish's first time at LaughFest.
Noah is the current host of Comedy Central's, "The Daily Show." He took over for Jon Stewart in 2015.
Haddish starred in the summer box office hit, "Girls Trip." Haddish also, just last weekend, was the first ever African American, female stand-up comedian to host Saturday Night Live.
Bamford created and stars in “Maria Bamford: the special special special” and the web series “The Maria Bamford Show.”
Esposito hosts her own weekly stand-up show at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles and is the co-creator and co-star of GLAAD award nominated “TAKE MY WIFE.”
Other returning festival favorites are Anjelah Johnson and Bert Kreischer.
The 10-day comedy festival begins on March 8, 2018.
“We’re thrilled to bring such diverse talent to LaughFest 2018,” said Joanne Roehm, director of strategic initiatives and LaughFest.
Looking to check out the local talent? No problem!
The Best of the Midwest competition will feature seven Midwestern comics battling to be crowned as the region’s best comic in 2018. Competitors:
- Geoffrey Asmus
- Reena Calm
- Mickey Housley
- Joe Kilgallon
- Holly Lynnea
- Martin Morrow
- Ali Sulton
- Brent Terhune
If the Midwest isn't local enough for you, keep Saturday, March 10 open on your calendar. The Rockin' Homegrown Jam is back for a seventh year!
All the comedians live right here in Grand Rapids.
LaughFest 2018 will include more than 200 shows featuring more than 100 artists at more than 40 venues in Grand Rapids, Lowell and Gun Lake Casino.
Additional artists set to perform:
- "Weird Al" Yankovic
- The Second City - Guide to the Symphony
- Nore Davis
- Aaron Kleiber
- Grand Lyon
- Emma Willmann
- Jordan Carlos
- Nathan Macintosh
- Keith McGill
- Alice Wetterlund
- Joel Kim Booster
- Tim Dillon
- Chris Garcia
- David Gborie
- Janelle James
- Ryan O'Flanagan
- Sean Patton
- Taylor Tomlinson
LaughFest Badges will go on sale at 10 a.m., Nov. 17. There are four different price levels -- allowing you to create customized ticket options for shows before individual tickets go on sale in January.
For more information, please visit LaughFest.org.
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Kayla Fortney is a senior multi-platform producer at WZZM 13. Have a news tip? Email news@wzzm13.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter.