In history, few friendships have been as steadfast — or as professionally fruitful — as that of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Perhaps Elton John and Bernie Taupin or Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak come close, but few bromances can truly hold a candle to the epic partnership that Damon and Affleck have built together.

Matt and Ben go back to 1980, when the pair became fast friends in their childhood hometown of Cambridge, Massachusetts. They had their first uncredited film role together in 1989 as extras in “Field of Dreams,” but first officially shared the screen in “School Ties.” But it was their breakout script for “Good Will Hunting” that launched them into stardom, winning them an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and establishing them as an unstoppable team. Since then, the duo have been an unrivaled force in the world of performing arts.

Until now.

Enter Em Perez and Jo McIver Lee: Best friends, former roommates, co-producers, co-writers, co-directors, co-bartenders, co-filmmakers, co-stand-up partners, co-pretty-much-everything. They are the creative minds behind a brand-new theater company committed to making waves in the Front Range arts scene. Earlier this year, the pair launched Unleashed Theatre Company, a fresh theatrical endeavor focused on bringing new, weird, and bold plays to Longmont and beyond.

The company’s debut production “Matt & Ben” will hit the stage at Boulder’s Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., on Nov. 29-30 and pays witty homage to Perez and McIver Lee’s own #friendshipgoals. This absurdist reimagining of how two unlikely Boston bros rose to Oscar-winning fame is a fitting introduction to the kinds of productions Unleashed aims to champion, according to its website: “New plays by playwrights of color, women, trans and nonbinary voices, young and neurodivergent creators — playwrights with fresh, true, and daring things to say; weird plays that explore bold new storytelling techniques or push boundaries too funky for traditional theaters; and bold plays that challenge and provoke.”

According to Perez, “Matt & Ben” is the perfect introduction to Unleashed’s unique style — a quirky, high-energy show that invites audiences into theater in a way they might not expect.

“‘Matt & Ben’ is a show that reflects a lot of who we are as artists — it’s a bit absurd, it’s rooted in high-level comedy, and it gives us the chance to connect with audiences in a fresh way,” said Perez.

Perez said a big part of the mission is to make theater “accessible and inviting” to traditional theater spaces.

“We want to show people that theater can be fun, approachable, and different from what they might expect,” Perez said.

In a lot of ways, too, the choice to feature “Matt & Ben” as Unleashed’s debut play was a bit of an obvious choice for friends as close as Perez and McIver Lee.

“It really was a natural fit for us,” said Perez. “It’s a two-woman show, and we’re a two-woman team with a strong comedy background. We trust each other 100%, and that on-stage chemistry made the transition feel seamless. Plus, this show is just a bit silly and definitely high-energy — both things we love in comedy.”

Written by Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers (another example of powerhouse partners), “Matt & Ben” imagines a young version of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck when the entire screenplay for Good Will Hunting mysteriously falls into their laps. The show takes audiences through gun-wielding, J.D. Salinger-haunted moments with a Boston flair, exploring what happens when fame and fortune feel almost within reach.

Perez and McIver Lee first crossed paths in the theater department at the University of Colorado Denver in 2010, where a shared passion for performance quickly turned them into creative partners. From acting in plays and performing improv to eventually sharing an apartment, their friendship grew alongside their artistic ambitions.

“We’ve been creative partners for a long time,” Perez said, describing the pair’s journey from college theater to their first joint venture, Bub Comedy.

Founded in Longmont in 2014, Bub Comedy was their answer to the city’s growing arts scene and bustling new breweries, coffee shops, and local businesses.

“Longmont was really growing then,” Perez said, “Qe felt there was room for something different — a performance space that went beyond traditional stand-up.”

Bub Comedy became known for its offbeat variety shows, with formats that ranged from sketches and improv to game-based competitions and themed dating shows. They collaborated closely with local venues, tailoring each show to fit the space and creating events that felt like an integral part of Longmont’s arts and nightlife community.

But when the pandemic hit in 2020, live performance took a back seat, and the duo found themselves rethinking their creative direction. With Perez’s experience in directing and McIver Lee’s in playwriting, they decided it was time to bring their skills into a larger theatrical arena, and thus, Unleashed was born.

Staying true to their comedy beginnings, each performance of “Matt & Ben” opens with a stand-up comedian to set the tone.

“We love keeping that variety-show vibe,” McIver Lee said. “And it’s been great to work with stand-up comics we’ve known for years, like Gabby Gutierrez Reed and Anthony Bartolo.”

In a further nod to their local roots, they’ve partnered with Longmont musician Valerie Bhat, who recorded ‘90s-inspired covers just for the show.

“It’s all about creating an experience that feels like more than just a play,” she said.

For preparation, McIver Lee and Perez did their due diligence, diving into hours of research on the men they’d be portraying onstage.

Instead of mirroring every detail, they focus on the “essence” of Matt and Ben’s ‘90s personas.

“We lean into that ‘bachelor-douchebag bro’ stereotype, which is fun to play up,” Perez said.

Costumes and set pieces are era-specific, creating a 1993 aesthetic that supports the playful, larger-than-life feel of the production.

“We decided not to ‘pretend to be men’ in a literal sense,” Perez said. “We’re simply two women playing these characters as fully as we can without trying to hide our own identities.”

For McIver Lee, this choice is part of what makes the show so engaging.

“Some jokes actually land better because the audience knows it’s two women playing Matt Damon and Ben

Affleck,” she said.

In what was likely the easiest casting decision of all time, McIver Lee and Perez spent no time debating over who would play whom.

“Honestly, it came down to one of us being taller and brunette and the other being shorter and blonde,” said Perez. “It was that easy.”

The play is just the start of what Unleashed Theater hopes to bring to the Boulder County community. Looking forward, the pair envisions producing shows that break new ground, foster community and bring in fresh audiences.

“We’re drawn to plays that bigger theaters might overlook, things that are cool, funny, strange, or challenging,” Perez said. “We’re working on a play-reading series to support new playwrights. We want to keep finding ways to make theater feel fresh and accessible.”

Four shows of “Matt & Ben” hit the stage at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29 and 30 at the Dairy Arts Center. Tickets are $15 and available online or at the door, subject to availability. The show is also running in Lakewood now through Nov. 23. For more information, visit unleashedtheatre.com.