New Play Matt & Ben Gets Off-Broadway Greenlight at P.S. 122, July 25-Sept. 6

By Ernio Hernandez
28 Jul 2003

They are Academy Award winners, "Project Greenlight" creators and among Hollywood's sexiest leading men and now they are idolized in Off-Broadway's Matt & Ben — as played by two women.

Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers' 2002 FringeNYC Award-winning play, Matt & Ben returns to New York after having played at this year's HBO-sponsored U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado. The Off-Broadway run plays at P.S. 122 July 28-Sept. 6 with an official opening of Aug. 7.

Matt & Ben is a satire on the pre-paparazzi, pre-fame friendship between Oscar-winning screenwriters and actors Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. "When the screenplay for 'Good Will Hunting' drops mysteriously from the heavens, the boys realize they're being tested by a Higher Power," a release states.

The sold-out Fringe run got the nod for Best Overall Production at the 2002 New York International Fringe Festival. The show starred the two authors as the duo; Kaling plays Affleck because they "have the same color hair" and Withers portrays Damon as they "are both shy around new people" according to the show's website, www.mattandben.com..

David Warren directs the new run of Matt & Ben which is produced by Victoria Lang, Pier Paolo Piccoli, Stephen Pevner and Jason Hsaio. The design team includes James Youmans (sets), Jeff Crotier (lights) and Fitz Patton (sound).

Warren has directed for Broadway (Holiday, Summer and Smoke) and Off-Broadway (Barbra's Wedding, The Dazzle).

For tickets to Matt & Ben at P.S. 122, 150 First Ave (at East Ninth Street), call (212) 477-5288.