Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience

Billy McGuigan is the creator and producer of several internationally touring shows. Billy’s shows have sold out countless performances and have broken box office and attendance records in several Theaters across the country. Career highlights have included playing with Buddy Holly’s Lead Guitarist and Grammy Award winner, Tommy Allsup, and Rock-a-Billy hall of famer and writer of ‘Oh, Boy!’ and ‘Rave On’, Sonny West. Billy has won countless awards for his work including the Spotlight Award for Best Actor in a Musical, an Omaha Entertainment and Arts Award for Yesterday and Today, a recipient of the Midland Business Journals 40 under 40 award, recognizing entrepreneurs in the Omaha area under 40 years old. He is a recipient of the College Public Affairs and Community Services (CPACS) Alumni Award for Excellence in Public Service awarded by the Faculty and Staff at the University of Nebraska and most recently was inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame.

In the winter of 2020, Billy released his ambitious solo original project, billymcguiganTOGETHER, a collection of songs written and recorded alone in his garage and opened the McGuigan Arts Academy located in Omaha, Nebraska.

So many to thank! Kate, Cartney and Ciaran for their love and inspiration, my brothers for their talent and for always being here, This band of family members for the years of times and laughs shared and to John and Missy for making us better.

Billy would like to dedicate this show to his father Bill McGuigan who would have given anything to see his “boys” performing Beatles music together on stage. We hope you will enjoy the show!
Instagram: @billymcguigan, www.billymcguigan.com

Favorite Beatle: My daughter’s namesake of course, Paul McCartney.
Favorite Beatles Song: This is like trying to pick a favorite relative, but I’ll try: The LOVE version of “Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite” is surprising, exciting and mind blowing. Every time I listen to it, my jaw drops. “For No One” is currently one of my favorites. One of the most beautifully crafted heartbreaking love songs ever written.

Brandon Bakke taught himself drums at the age of 15 and has been a fixture of the Omaha original rock scene ever since. Brandon is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist and attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha as a clarinetist. He has been featured on stage and in the studio in roles ranging from pit orchestra performance to wheelman for various bands’ cross-country touring stints. Outside of musical endeavors, you’ll find Brandon in his shop breathing life back into vintage cars and motorcycles.

Favorite Beatle: Always been a George guy.
Favorite Beatles Song: Let’s go with Octopus’s Garden because it reminds me of listening with my mom as a kid.

Matthew McGuigan, a man of few words, Matthew is more than excited to be performing with Rave On! Productions.  Matthew is a graduate of PCCA in St. Petersburg, FL and has extensive theatrical credits including: West Side Story (Tony), Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Tommy) and Jesus Christ Superstar (Musical Director). When he’s not performing with Rave On! Productions, he’s the other half to the band Moses Prey. They have released a full length album (A Paper Moon) and 2 EP’s (The Martyr and Breystory). He’s been playing music for over 20 years, and couldn’t be anymore excited to be a part of this production. He dedicates this performance to his wife Julia and sons Lennon and Shawn, and to the memory of his late father, Bill.

Favorite Beatle: John
Favorite Beatles Song: “Happiness is a Warm Gun”, because it has every angle of a great rock song down, and second: “A Day in a Life”, because it’s a masterpiece.

Ryan McGuigan would first like to take this opportunity to say how much he enjoys getting to ROCK to the greatest music of all time with his brothers Billy and Matthew.  He is a graduate of the Pinellas County Center for the Arts in St Petersburg, Fl.  Some of his favorite past roles include Joey in Tony n Tina’s Wedding, Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar and a Theatre Arts Guild award winning portrayal of Buddy in The Last Session.  Ryan is a member of the Theatre Arts Guild. When Ryan isn’t performing with Yesterday and Today, he tag teams with his brother Matthew in the Power Pop Rock band Moses Prey.  Ryan would like to dedicate his performance to his family: Mary, Harry, Josie and Jackie. In memory of Kay J. McGuigan.

Favorite Beatle:  No question, John.
Favorite Beatles Song: “And Your Bird Can Sing”.  It changes daily, but I love the blend of incredible melody, tight harmonies and “cut-throat” guitars.

Max Meyer holds a Bachelors of Music Education degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with his primary instrument during his studies being the classical guitar. As a dedicated music educator, Max is the Head of Music Instruction and guitar teacher at the McGuigan Arts Academy and continues educational outreach with his classical guitar group, the Omaha Guitar Trio. Max joined Rave On Productions in 2016 and has been able to perform the music of Buddy Holly, The Beatles and other Rock and Roll legends in Theaters and Concert Venues all over the country. Max’s life and career revolves around all aspects of music in performing, teaching and composing. He loves what he does and feels incredibly thankful for the support he has received!

Favorite Beatle: Paul McCartney
Favorite Beatles Song: While My Guitar Gently Weeps (guitar heaven).

Darren Pettit received his bachelor’s degree in saxophone performance from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and he received his master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati college conservatory of music. He is currently the Saxophone instructor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the director of the Metropolitan Area Youth Jazz Orchestra, and the co-founder of the Omaha Jazz Workshop. He also has a large studio of private students. Darren is in high demand as an active performer and educator in the Omaha area.

Favorite Beatle: My favorite Beatle is all of them together. Not one of them was as good as the combination of the five (including George Martin).
Favorite Beatles Song: “Happiness is a Warm Gun”. Starts with a beautiful ballad, switches to a waltz, and ends with a doo-wop tune. It is constructed brilliantly, and I like the subject matter.

Aaron Slagle has been active in the music scene for over 17 years working both on and off stage. Aaron’s previous touring history includes Guitar Tech for Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience and Audio Engineer for Billy McGuigan. Aaron has performed on stage as the lead guitarist in bands Moses Prey and Icky Thump and he wrote, produced and starred in the web series Restrung. Aaron would like to thank Kate Whitecotton for writing this bio for him.

Favorite Beatle: George Harrison
Favorite Beatles Song: I Want You (She’s So Heavy)