Schools

Seth Meyers to Lead Northwestern Homecoming Parade Oct. 21

A notice from Northwestern University.

 American actor, comedian, head writer for “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) and SNL’s “Weekend Update” anchor Seth Meyers will be the star attraction during Northwestern University’s 2011 Homecoming festivities the weekend of Oct. 21 to 23. Meyers will serve as the Grand Marshal for the Friday night (Oct. 21) Homecoming Parade and Pep Rally.

Meyers received his undergraduate degree in radio/television/film from Northwestern’s School of Communication in 1996. Meyers will be among the thousands of Northwestern alumni visiting the Evanston campus next month as Homecoming Weekend Oct. 21 to 23 also is Reunion Weekend for the classes of 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2006. 

Meyers got his improv comedy start as a member of the Northwestern University improv sketch group Mee-Ow. After studying and performing at ImprovOlympic (iO), a world-famous improv comedy theater in Chicago, Meyers headed to Holland and began performing his acclaimed show, “Pick-ups and Hiccups,” with partner Jill Benjamin at the Boom Chicago Theater in Amsterdam, which eventually caught the attention of “Saturday Night Live.” In 2001, the New England native joined the cast of NBC's Emmy Award-winning late-night comedy showcase, “SNL.”

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This fall Meyers returns for his 11th season on “SNL” as a cast member and his sixth season as both head writer and “Weekend Update” anchor. 

Earlier this year, Meyers returned for the second time to host the 2011 ESPYs Awards on ESPN and headlined the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.

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Meyers will lead Northwestern’s 2011 Homecoming Parade, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, at the intersection of Sheridan Road and Lincoln Street, and proceeds north on Sheridan Road to Chicago Avenue. This year, the student-run Homecoming committee has selected “Purple Reign” as the homecoming’s theme. The committee is encouraging student groups and community organizations to participate in Northwestern and/or Purple themes for their parade floats.

Other Homecoming events that are open to the public include the Friday night Homecoming concert and pep rally which immediately follows the parade, The Saturday Wildcat Alley -pregame fan fest area festivities and the Wildcat football game. The Theatre and Interpretation Center at Northwestern University’s Oct. 20 to 23 Evanston campus production of “The Second City Does Northwestern: Wildcat On A Hot Tin Roof” also is open to the public. Details of these Homecoming weekend events follow:

• During the 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, Homecoming Concert and Pep Rally at Deering Meadow, the green space between Deering Library (1937 Sheridan Road) and Sheridan Road, the Wildcat Marching Band will perform pre-game, half-time and Ryan Field favorites. The program also features appearances by Northwestern’s WildPride (the new official name for the Northwestern cheerleaders and Ladycat dancers), Willie the mascot, Grand Marshal Seth Meyers and Wildcats Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald. The Homecoming King and Queen will also be announced and crowned by Grand Marshal Meyers. (In the event of rain, the concert will be held in Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St.) Admission is free

• Wildcat Alley, 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, opens two hours before kick-off and is a free pregame fan fest area that offers something for Wildcat football fans of all ages. Wildcat Alley is located a few steps north of Ryan Field.

• The 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 Homecoming Game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Penn State Nittany Lions will be held at Ryan Field, 1501 Central St. Sideline tickets are $50 each; end zone tickets are $35 for the general public; Corner (section 113, 114, 115, 122, 123, 124) seats are $40 each. To purchase tickets by phone, call 888-467-8775 (GO-PURPLE), online at nusports.com, or visit the Northwestern Athletic Ticket office at 1501 Central St., Evanston campus. The ticket office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

• Second City’s customized production of “The Second City Does Northwestern: Wildcat On A Hot Tin Roof” is a 90-minute Northwestern-centric show that will satirize everything purple through sketch comedy, songs and improvisation. The production debuts at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, with repeat performances at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St. The Theatre and Interpretation Center at Northwestern event is presented in partnership with the Northwestern University Office of Alumni and Development, and Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. For tickets, contact the TIC Box Office at (847) 491-7282 or visit www.tic.northwestern.edu.


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