University Program Board (UPB) will welcome Emmy-nominated actor Rainn Wilson from The Office on Oct. 19 for an hour-long conversation and Q&A.
Wilson will engage in a 45-minute moderated conversation with preapproved topics before answering audience questions for 15 minutes. Tickets go on sale Sept. 13 at 8 a.m. and cost $5 for SRU students and $10 for general admission.
“We know The Office is a popular show,” UPB President Aubrey Griess said. “Even though it came out so long ago, people still love it today. I still watch it basically every day.”
Wilson’s agent did not provide a list of potential topics, but Wilson has discussed in previous interviews his mental highs and lows throughout The Office’s production and his spiritual journey. He also commonly discusses fan interactions and his book Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution.
UPB contacted Wilson’s team before the summer to bring him in as an end-of-semester speaker, but he was put on the back burner as the timing did not work out. Griess instead contacted him over the summer and secured him for the fall.
When looking for potential celebrity guests, UPB balances relevance and popularity to find someone who fits the student body. Miranda Malicki, UPB’s director of speakers, will be planning the nuances of Wilson’s show.
This will be the second time a cast member from The Office has visited SRU. UPB welcomed Angela Kinsey before the fall semester ended in 2018.
