Jane Lynch, native Chicago funnywoman known for Christopher Guest’s films and Glee, delivered an incredibly profound commencement speech at Columbia College Chicago on Saturday, speaking truths about careers, life, and art that fly in the face of the typical advice often bestowed on new graduates. “See belief systems for what they are—soul killers, and crushers of the creative spirit,” Lynch says, along with “no goals, plus nothing to achieve, equals peace” and “giving back—don’t do it.” Watch the full speech, full of too many great nuggets of wisdom to list, below:
An Emmy Award-winning actor, Lynch grew up in the south suburbs, and performed in Chicago with Second City, Steppenwolf, Organic, and portrayed Carol Brady in the long-running THE REAL LIVE BRADY BUNCH at the Annoyance Theatre.
Lynch’s portrayal of P.E. teacher Sue Sylvester on Glee earned her an Emmy Award as well as a People’s Choice Award for Favorite TV Comedy Actress. Her film credits include The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Role Models, Another Cinderella Story and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
Other honorary degree recipients are Columbia College alum and film producer Paul Garnes; Grammy Award-winning songwriter Diane Warren, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and poet Tracy K. Smith, and Carlos Tortolero, founder and president of Chicago’s National Museum of Mexican Art.
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Jason is a producer, manager, and designer with 17 years of experience in Chicago, New York, and in the touring market. In 2015, he founded Lotus Theatricals - the publisher of Performink, and an independent commercial producing company - with Abigail Trabue.
