OUR STORY
The McGuigan Arts Academy, founded in 2021, was the vision of Billy McGuigan and Kate Whitecotton. What began as an initiative to provide outreach opportunities while on tour quickly grew into a larger mission to serve the Omaha community. Today, the Academy fulfills its mission by operating a full-time studio located in Countryside Village, offering theater, music, and art classes, camps, and lessons. Beyond the studio, the Academy partners with several school systems across Nebraska and continues to present outreach and residency programs in performing arts venues, school systems and community centers around the country. The Academy was created to give young artists the chance to learn directly from professionals in the industry, fostering confidence, creativity, and a deep connection to the arts.
MEET OUR FOUNDERS
Billy McGuigan
Owner/Creative Director
Billy McGuigan is the owner and creative director of Rave On Productions, a company he founded in 2003 to house his original touring shows, including Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience and Rave On! Under Billy's leadership, Rave On Productions has grown into one of the premier agencies for mid-level touring in the United States, with a roster of artists performing across North America.
Billy has earned national recognition for his innovative productions and performances, breaking box office records and receiving numerous awards. He is a two-time Las Vegas headliner and has performed for notable Hollywood actors on the historic Paramount Pictures lot. Career highlights include playing alongside Buddy Holly’s lead guitarist and Grammy Award winner Tommy Allsup, as well as Rock-a-Billy Hall of Fame songwriter Sonny West, writer of "Oh Boy" and "Rave On." Billy has also been inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame and has received honors such as the Spotlight Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Buddy Holly in Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story, the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Award for Yesterday and Today, and Midland Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award.
Billy’s passion for music stems from his father, Bill, who inspired a lifelong love of the arts. After his father’s passing in 1996, Billy and his brothers turned to music as a source of healing, leading to the creation of Rave On Productions and its mission to connect audiences through shared memories and music. To honor his father’s legacy, Billy established the Bill McGuigan Scholarship, awarded annually to a Bellevue East High School student pursuing an arts-related field.
“I was selected as an artistically ‘gifted’ kid in middle school and was able to study impovisational acting, movie editing and stage acting with professionally trained teachers and artists. It changed my life. Seeing that the arts ARE a profession and it CAN be done as a job opened my eyes to world that seemed unimaginable.”
Kate Whitecotton
Chief executive officer
Kate’s career with Rave On Productions began in 2007, when she joined Billy McGuigan in Omaha to stage manage the premiere of Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience. Following its successful debut, the company launched its first national tour, where Kate quickly rose to Tour and Production Manager and later Director of Bookings.
In 2016, she stepped into her current role as CEO, leading the evolution of Billy McGuigan’s Rave On Productions into a nationally recognized production company known for its inventive live entertainment and strong audience engagement. She has also played a central role in growing the company’s educational footprint through the McGuigan Arts Academy.
Beyond her work with Rave On Productions, Kate serves as the Director of Production at Opera Omaha, bringing her experience in touring, producing, and audience strategy to one of the region’s premier arts institutions.
“My involvement in theatre didn’t begin until high school when I volunteered to Stage Manager our production of Newsies. I loved everything about the experience. What stuck with me the most is how open and accepting everyone was. I had found a place where you could come as you are without judgement and have a supportive community around you as you expressed your creativity. I hope to help provide an opportunity where everyone can have that experience.”