Marcus Center-Arts Connect Continues Outreach Workshop with RAVE ON

The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts and Milwaukee Public Schools continue to team up for an outreach program called Arts Connect. The Center is thrilled to continue to offer this program to area youth and is working withRave On! The Buddy Holly Experience to offer a workshop for students at MPS' Riverside University High School. This program is designed to allow these students to experience the various aspects of the performing arts including exploration of various college and career possibilities. Students will work with Billy McGuigan, creator and star, on Thursday, October 6 at 1:00 pm at the MPS' Riverside University High School.

Billy will teach students about Buddy Holly and his influence on music and culture. He will also share his inspiration behind Rave On! The Buddy Holly Experience, what life is like touring as a musician, and how to pursue a career in the arts.

Billy McGuigan (Buddy Holly) has performed coast to coast in over 1,500 performances of Rave On! and in over 400 performances of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story since originating the role at the Omaha Community Playhouse in the fall of 2002. Career highlights include a Spotlight Award for Best Actor in a Musical (Phoenix, AZ), a nomination for an Arizoni Award in the category: Best Actor in a lead role
-Musical (Phoenix, AZ) and performing with two of Buddy Holly's contemporaries and Rockabilly Hall of Fame members, Tommy Allsup (Buddy Holly's lead guitarist) and Sonny West (songwriter of Rave On! and Oh, Boy! ). During his run as Buddy Holly, Billy's performances have sold out countless shows and have broken box office and attendance records in 6 theaters across the country.

Billy has also written, produced and directed two other nationally touring shows: Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience and Rock Legends: People's Choice. As the writer of Rave On! , Billy would like to thank all of the many people who have contributed to the success of the show over the past 10 years! In particular, a huge nod to the Omaha Community Playhouse for giving him this amazing opportunity to develop and perform this show in front of such incredible audiences.

The Arts Connect outreach program will continue throughout the year with the Marcus Center's upcoming Associated Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center series and Off Broadway 2016/2017 season.

For more information on the Arts Connect program and other community outreach engagement programs, visit www.marcuscenter.org/outreach/engagement.