Madeline Diamond

Contributing Writer

Actor and comedian Nick Offerman will headline the University’s annual Center Stage event at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19.

Offerman, who currently stars as Ron Swanson on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” will perform as part of his American Ham tour. Additionally, several student groups will perform, all on the Sojka Lawn. The Campus Activities & Programs (CAP) Center is organizing the event, along with input from students.

“We are excited to have him,” Assistant Director of CAP Chelsea Burghoff said.

The CAP Center is confident that the student body will also be enthused with the University’s choice to invite Offerman to campus because of their involvement in choosing the performer, Burghoff said.

This year, student polls contributed to the university’s choice to invite Offerman.

The student-run organization Activities and Campus Events (ACE) worked with the CAP Center to organize the event. Students involved with ACE contributed some input in choosing the performer and will also help with the event’s production.

“Overall, we are there to help ensure that the entire event runs smoothly,” ACE President Tory Cutting ’14 said.

Center Stage will also feature several student performers; in past years, student a capella and improv groups have performed.

“We like to provide a spotlight on student performers,” Burghoff said.

Before the main performances, the CAP Center will provide a dinner (also on the Sojka Pavillon Lawn) of soup in bread bowls as well as a dessert of s’mores roasted in chimneys placed around the lawn.

The five-year-old Center Stage show has hosted performers including Saturday Night Live’s Seth Meyers and Kenan Thompson, and B.J. Novak of the former television show “The Office.”