Anne Kempton of Sully Station and Matt Bennett of Chantilly Highlands, both Chantilly High School class of 1992 graduates, will open in "Grease," Friday at the Alden Theatre in McLean in a production put on by C.A.S.T.
Kempton, daughter of Denise and Jack Kempton, is a Realtor, along with her parents, for Long & Foster in Centreville. She graduated from Radford University with a vocal degree in voice and sings with jazz bands. She is playing the part of Rizzo, a trouble maker who deep down is a good person.
"The audition process was quite challenging. I wasn't expecting it to be as hard as it was seeing how it's a community group putting on the production," said Kempton. "Everyone was really good. I went up against 12-15 people for call backs alone. I don't even know how many people originally tried out for that part before call backs."
Kempton was part of Chantilly High School's choir program, but "Grease" is her first role in a play.
"The hardest part of this whole production is definitely putting everything together, the acting, singing and dancing. I am excited though to see the finished product and how it all comes together," Kempton said.
BENNETT, SON OF Edward and Karin Bennett, is a 1996 graduate of Virginia Tech where he graduated with a degree in Broadcast Communications. Once he graduated, Bennett went out to Hollywood to try his hand in voice-overs. He ended up getting a job with Bunim/Murray and started working office positions for MTV on the shows "Road Rules" and "Real World." He also worked on "Love Cruise: The Maiden Voyage" on Fox. Bennett also took a job with NBC working on its show "Fear Factor" where he was the assistant stunt coordinator for the first and second seasons. He has moved back to Virginia and is currently working for AOL in Dulles.
Bennett, playing lead man Danny Zuko, is also doing his first-ever theater production.
"I arrived at the audition and competed against two other guys. They were strong vocally and could hit the higher notes better then I could, but I competed," said Bennett. "I was then asked to come back to the next dance rehearsal. Half way through the director pulled me aside and offered me the part. I was more frightened than excited."
Kempton and Bennett met in high school where they were both part of Chantilly's Touch of Class show choir.
"We are both dreamers," said Bennett. "We are not your standard run-of-the-mill citizens that are constantly working those 9-to-5 jobs, getting married and having kids. Somebody forgot to give us the life manual when we were born. We are just trying to find our way in this world and trying to be happy while doing it."
Kempton and Bennett will be in "Grease," running July 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25 and 26 at the Alden Theater in the McLean Community Center. For tickets, call either Ticketmaster at 202-432-7328 or the Alden Theater box office at 703-790-0123. Tickets are $14.50 for adults and $13.50 for students and seniors.