Tramell Tillman, known for his portrayal of floor manager Seth Milchick on the Apple TV+ series Severance, took center stage at PaleyFest 2025 with a surprising performance. Tillman led members of the University of Southern California marching band during a live Q&A panel event for the thriller series at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. The surprise performance delighted fans and was a fitting echo of a scene from the show’s second season climax, “Cold Harbor.”
The performance was further inspired by the really creepy American beauty pageant-esque celebration in the film’s climax. As company drum major, Seth Milchick directed a second company celebration to honor Helly R.’s promotion into the Macrodata Refinement department. The march was a brilliant display of colorful creativity and corporate compliance. It called to mind one of the most poignant scenes from the first season of Severance.
"That marching band sequence really embodies, for me, the juxtaposition of the show — like this corporate world with this fully established band that they have at the ready. There's something so wonderfully surreal about that. And at the same time, these characters are on this very human journey inside of this surreal moment." – Britt Lower
Director Ben Stiller explained that Tillman’s absence during the initial cast introductions was due to his tendency to "go off the grid," adding an element of surprise for the audience when he appeared leading the marching band. The performance was designed as a reward for both Helly R.'s fictional accomplishments and the audience's patience in awaiting the season 2 finale conclusion.
The times, part of PaleyFest 2025, gave fans a completely immersive experience that went far beyond your usual festival panel Q&A. Attendees were left in awe as the marching band filled the theater with music, bringing to life a moment that bridges reality and fiction.
"I feel really proud to be a part of this incredible team, the cast and crew and the designers of our show, who have built and put so much sweat and thought into each aspect of this huge puzzle that we're all building and solving at the same time." – Britt Lower
