Emmy Award-winning actress and Redbird alum Jane Lynch ’82 headlines a new Illinois State University TV spot that debuts this month.
The 30-second spot will formally debut Saturday, September 3, during the Redbird football game broadcast. It will air during all Athletics broadcasts and will also be seen online.
Lynch, a School of Theatre and Dance alum, famously portrayed Sue Sylvester on Fox’s TV show Glee and host of Hollywood Game Night. She filmed her role in the TV spot earlier this year while she was in Chicago for See Jane Sing, a cabaret-style show she brought to the Lyric Opera House.
A production crew works in the Student Fitness Center this summer on new promotional videos for Illinois State.
Lynch is only the latest Redbird entertainer to support their alma mater on-screen. Actors Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) and Jeff Perry (Scandal) starred in the last Illinois State TV spot in 2014.
“We are very excited that Jane Lynch agreed to appear and do the voiceover for our 30-second spot this year. She is highly recognizable to both student and parent audiences,” said Brian Beam, M.S. ’94, M.B.A. ’10, executive director of University Marketing and Communications (UMC), which produced the spot. “Her participation and that of other notable alumni, like Sean Hayes, helps draw attention to Illinois State. This is great for our brand. They are both outstanding ambassadors who can really amplify our STATE Your Passion message.”
The spot encourages viewers—specifically, prospective students—to picture themselves as a Redbird, on campus and around the world. Many students, faculty, staff, and campus landmarks make cameos before Lynch appears on-screen to deliver a familiar message.
“STATE Your Passion at Illinois State University,” she says.
The video was co-produced by Colorado-based Modus Persona.
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