Matt Damon and Ben Affleck at the 1998 Oscars
It wasn’t that long ago that a couple of fresh-faced Boston boys went from relative obscurity to Hollywood’s hottest leading men by winning the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay in 1997 for Good Will Hunting. Since then, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have gone on to star in dozens of successful movies, making millions of dollars, and even scoring a few directing credits in the process. Their break-through award-winning moment so far seems to be an exceptional moment in their careers, as the two have yet to re-team for an writing projects, despite their infamous “bromance”, and both have only worked as writers on a scant few subsequent projects individually. So how did the two Beantowners first achieve their success?
Currently playing at the Central Square Theater, “Matt and Ben”, a ‘gender-bending parody [that] tells the “true” story of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s fame’. Written by Mindy Kaling, star of NBC’s “The Office”, and Brenda Withers, will be playing through the end of July and stars Marianna Bassham and Philana Mia as the male leads. The hilarious off-Broadway hit show pokes affectionate fun at the story of the rise of Hollywood’s most Bostonian bosom buddies.
Kaling, who was born and raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is getting ready to become acquainted with a new leading man at “The Office”. Since Steve Carell’s departure this past April, its been recently announced that James Spader will be joining the cast. Spader brings with him his own Bay State connections–he formerly starred in “The Practice” and its subsequent spin-off, “Boston Legal”, both of which were written by former Belmont, MA resident, David E. Kelley.
For more information on the show or to book tickets, check out the Central Square Theater’s website here.
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