Damon, Affleck Bring Good Will to Hub
The Boston Herald
May 6, 2000.

It was a night of good will for theater last night as film actors Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and his brother, Casey Affleck, appeared at the Four Seasons Hotel for an all-star American Repertory Theatre benefit.

``We've had quite a bit of previous stage experience, but in local theater,'' said Ben Affleck, who shared a screenwriting Oscar with Damon for ``Good Will Hunting.''

That screenplay began as a workshop play for their acting teacher David Wheeler, now directing at the A.R.T., the Cambridge-based repertory company founded by Robert Brustein.

``David is why we're here,'' Affleck said. ``He was our acting coach.''

Damon and the Affleck brothers, all from Cambridge, put their stage experience to the test at last night's party, acting in scenes of works in progress by playwrights David Mamet, Steve Martin and Christopher Durang.  Applauding in the audience were Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow and another family friend, ``Gladiator'' co-star Joaquin Phoenix.

Four Seasons manager Robin Brown also displayed his stage skills, running the dinner party's live auction. Gwen Cohen, wearing a Chanel gown, chaired the event. A.R.T. actor Jeremy Geidt, Alan Dershowitz, Anne and Graham Gund, Sally Cottingham, Cokie and Lee Perry, Jean Rudnick and Barbara Lee were among the guests gathering before the event for a private reception staged for the movie stars.

The film actors found their one night's close association with stagecraft alluring, Ben Affleck said.

``I wouldn't mind it,'' he said, ``but I'd want to do it in a small format. Perhaps something I wrote.

``Acting on stage was the best life experience I've had.''