NYC, L.A. Down Comedy Matt & Ben May See Chicago and London Next
By Ernio Hernandez
22 Apr 2004
The comedy Matt & Ben — which is currently running Off-Broadway and in Los Angeles — may see runs at other cities in the near future, according to production spokespersons.
Producers are in discussions to bring writer-performers Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers and their alter egos to audiences in Chicago and London.
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" mysteriously drops into their laps, the duo believe they are being tested by a higher power.
The show played a sold-out run at the 2002 New York International Fringe Festival where it garnered Best Overall Production. After an appearance at the 2003 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival, the show returned to New York for an Off-Broadway open run at P.S. 122. The NY staging recast its leads when the originators booked a stint at Los Angeles' Acme Comedy Theatre where they are slated to play to May 16.
In Matt & Ben, the two authors star as the famous Hollywood duo — Kaling plays Affleck and Withers portrays Damon. Both also take on other well-known personae in the show. David Warren (Barbra's Wedding, The Dazzle) directed the New York and Los Angeles run.
"When we wrote this show, we were recently graduated, unemployed best friends with way too much free time for reading celebrity tabloids," previously stated Kaling and Withers. "We would have never imagined that the show would be enjoying such a successful run Off-Broadway. But now, to play Hollywood's most celebrated hunks in Hollywood is mind-boggling."
Victoria Lang and Pier Paolo Piccoli, Stephen Pevner and Jason Hsiao in association with Stephanie Steele and Lisa Ullman present the west coast premiere of the comedy.
For tickets to Matt & Ben at the Acme Comedy Theatre, 135 North La Brea Avenue in Hollywood, CA, call (866) 811-4111. For the New York run at P.S. 122, 150 First Ave (at East Ninth Street), call (212) 352-3101. For more information visit www.MattandBen.com.
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