Biography

Kailee Ash-Ray

Kailee Ash-Ray is fresh to San Diego and excited to serve as a vocal teaching artist at San Diego Junior Theatre. She graduated from Millikin University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Music Education and throughout her undergrad taught K-12 students in the Illinois area. Along with working in public schools, Kailee has served as the Music Director at the black box theatre on Millikin’s campus and taught youth theater in her hometown. Her passion for music and education continues to grow and she is excited to bring something new to San Diego Junior Theatre! In addition to Kailee’s classes at JT, she music directed JT’s 2023 production of Grace for President.

CLASSES

Winter Session: Teen Audition Clinic

Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach

Directed by Elissa Russell
Music Direction by Kailee Ash-Ray

Words and Music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
Book by Timothy Allen McDonald
Based on the book James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

When James is sent by his conniving aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion that results in a tremendous peach... and launches a journey of enormous proportions. Suddenly, James finds himself in the center of the gigantic peach, among human-sized insects with equally oversized personalities. After it falls from the tree and rolls into the ocean, the group faces hunger, sharks and plenty of disagreements. Thanks to James' quick wit and creative thinking, the peach residents learn to live and work together as a family. The dangerous voyage is a success, but the adventure takes a whole new twist once they land on the Empire State Building.