Rancho Santa Margarita Homes & Lifestyles

17-year-old Chassey Bennett, a resident of Rancho Santa Margarita and a senior at Mission Viejo High School, brought genuine charisma and energy to her character, Millie Dillmount in MVHS’s recent musical comedy production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. This girl can sing - and I have no doubt that one day she’ll do it on Broadway.

Chassey has been performing since she was knee-high-to-a-grasshopper. Her first lead role was in Mrs. Merritt’s Kindergarten class at Mission Hills Christian School - the production was Stone Soup. Since that time Chassey estimates that she’s been involved in close to fifty productions. She has done many productions with Musical Theater Village in Irvine, has been a regular principal soloist at The Crystal Cathedral’s Glory of Christmas, and she sings regularly at Saddleback Church.

When asked what her most challenging role has been, Chassey replied, “It’s got to be Peter Pan. You know. Playing a boy. That was probably the most difficult.” I saw that particular performance and she was brilliantly convincing. She had the audience fooled.

Chassey readily admits that her parents Alan and Karen Bennett have been very involved in her productions and have provided her with voice, dancing and acting lessons as she’s needed them. Alan and Karen have performed with Chassey as well.

Over the years Chassey has won numerous performance awards. She has been the recipient of Musical Theater Village’s Child Female Vocalist and Teen Female Vocalist awards on several occasions. She also recently won 2nd place in the Female Musical Theater Division of Rotary Club’s 2007 Young Singer of the Year.

Given Chassey’s incredible voice, her charming nature, and her ability to engage her audience, I was unable to resist asking her if she had considered trying out for American Idol. She has the vocal reach and the charisma to make a serious go of it, and I believe she’d probably rival Sanjaya Malakar in popularity. She answered my question very honestly, “I have thought about it. I did think about it but if I made it then I would miss out on my senior year. I didn’t want to do that. If I would have done that I would have missed out on Millie. I would have missed out on this.” She does plan to audition for American Idol this summer.

After her graduation next month, Chassey plans to attend Saddleback Community College. “I’m going to get my general ed classes out of the way then audition, audition, audition.” Auditioning is a way of life for Chassey. She recently auditioned for a role in Civic Light Opera’s upcoming performance of South Pacific. At the time of my interview she was waiting to see if the performance dates overlapped with her planned outreach mission to Kenya.

It’s exciting to watch a talented local girl blossom into an accomplished performer. Rancho Santa Margarita residents will have to keep their eyes on Chassey Bennett. We may even see her on the next American Idol.

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