From rehearsals to tech week to the final curtain, performers become more than a cast; they become a family. No one understands this bond better than Kennedy Julian (12, YPAS) and Drew Ashley (12, YPAS), who have been performing together for over a decade. As their senior year comes to an end, Julian and Ashley reflect on the past and look towards their futures.
Both began their passion for performance similarly, influenced by their older sisters’ experiences in dance and theater. After spending time in the dance studio her sister went to, Julian started dance lessons when she was two-years-old. From there, she began to build connections and learn about community theater. Her first show, “Annie,” sparked her passion for musical theater.
Ashley, meanwhile, first performed in a show at the Jewish Community Center when he was around four-years-old, after his sister’s cast mates recommended him for a role. He ended up loving theater, and he’s been performing ever since. Ashley branched out of local theater, auditioning in New York when he was in middle school. In 2020, Ashley was meant to play Charlie in the “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” national tour, and in 2021, he booked “The Sound of Music” international tour as Friedrich. However, due to complications with the COVID-19 pandemic, both tours were canceled.
Ashley and Julian’s paths crossed at the dance studio they both attended, where they participated in the same competitive dance group. For nearly a decade, they grew up going to school and performing with each other, a strong connection that carried over into their characters as they took the stage together at YPAS for “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” in 2025.
“‘Charlie Brown’ was literally just the best process ever. Nothing else has ever topped it,” Ashley said.
Ashley played the titular character, Charlie, and Julian played his sister, Sally. Their friendship with each other and the bonds they developed with the rest of the small cast were incredibly important for the character connections they built onstage.
“Something that was so special about ‘Charlie Brown’ was it was such a small cast and the whole process just felt so easy because everybody was so comfortable with each other,” Julian said.
The cast performed at the 2025 Kentucky Performing Arts Bradley Awards, where Julian won Best Actress in a Leading Role and qualified for the Jimmy Awards. The Broadway League Foundation presents the Jimmy Awards (National High School Musical Theatre Awards), an acclaimed competition where student performers from across the nation showcase their talent in musical theater, culminating in a performance on a Broadway stage.
“Going to the Jimmy Awards was probably the coolest thing I’ve ever done in musical theater,” Julian said. She described how her connections within the cast, especially her long-time friendship with Ashley, were a significant part of her success in her qualifying performance at the Bradley Awards.
For Julian and Ashley, community is one of the most significant components of performing at YPAS, specifically in their musical theater class with a small size of only 14 students.
“[The class] bonds you because you see everybody at their worst and you see everybody at their best, but you also just want to see them succeed. […] We all had our rough patches. Like, there were times where people didn’t necessarily get along, but it’s like a family. It’s like having a fight with your sister or brother,” Julian said.
However, despite their passion for performing, neither Julian nor Ashley plans to pursue musical theater in the future.
“I chose not to pursue musical theater in college. I’m going to be doing music business instead. But again, that was a really, really hard decision to make because it’s been my whole life. It’s all I know. It’s all I’ve ever done,” Ashley said.
Ashley intends to continue his passion for music through his pursuit of a music business, without some of the drawbacks he experienced in theater. For Ashley, the rehearsal process’s repetitive nature and the resulting burnout made him want to explore his passions and career options outside of musical theater. However, he does not plan to leave performance completely behind.
“I’m never going to stop performing in any way, shape, or form. And if the opportunity arises, I’d love to go back to New York and audition for things,” Ashley said.
Meanwhile, Julian wants to go into marketing communications or sideline reporting.
“[Choosing not to go into musical theater for college] was probably one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make. And I’ve kind of been making that decision for like two years now, like trying to figure out what I do want to do. But I don’t think it’ll ever leave me,” Julian said.
Like Ashley, she hopes to continue performing, even though theater will not be her main focus.
Just as graduation impacts Ashley and Julian’s connection with musical theater, it also impacts their connection with each other. After seeing each other daily at school and dance practice for nearly a decade, moving into adulthood apart will be a very difficult transition. However, Ashley and Julian believe that, despite the barrier of distance, their friendship will continue to thrive.
“Being so far apart from each other is definitely going to be difficult and strange. Kennedy is like a sister to me, though, so I know that we’ll always stay in touch and pick up right where we left off when we are back together again,” Ashley said.
High school graduation means significant change for both of them, academically, educationally and socially. However, even as Julian and Ashley embark on their separate journeys, they will always carry what they gained over a decade of performance with them: happy memories, important life skills and a found family within the theater.
