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By now, most have caught on to the beauty of the one-square mile community that has rejuvenated itself into a cultural arts mecca by building upon its rich music history to offer varied festivals, gallery exhibits, and dining venues.

But in a neighboring town, 21-year-old playwright named Matthew Yee [at right] is doing his small part to add live theater to that list, all the while correcting a stigma he often hears reiterated.

“Most of my time is spent surrounded by theater and the beauty of Asbury Park,” said Yee, an Eatontown resident. “I first got introduced to the city when I was doing community work with the Premier Theater Company and with Project REAL.”

Although Yee grew up within minutes of the city, Brookdale Community College theater major was apprehensive about spending time within city limits.

“At first it made me a little bit nervous because Asbury, for a little time, didn’t have a great history,” he said. “But the more I spent time here I realized how untrue the things people were saying are.”

On Aug. 19 and 20, Yee will open the play he wrote, produces and directs at Project REAL, an LGBT and young adult hang out space that also focuses on HIV/AID prevention and education. The nonprofit is  funded by the Visiting Nurses Association.

It was through Project REAL that Yee was able to bring “Don’t’ Let Me Go,” his story about looking for love, finding love, returning to love, and losing love into fruition. The play has gone through several drafts through development and feedback via readings with Brookdale colleagues and friends, and a previous one night workshop performance last summer at Project REAL.

“The play is about a group of friends – Mark, Jason, and Tony – and how their friendship is tested when Tony sleeps with Jason’s girlfriend,” Yee said. “The friends’ true feelings and thoughts on each other arise and they’re thrown into chaos as they battle with what it means to love someone.”

Yee, who now works as a crew member of iStar’s Asbury Park Now program, says the job allows him to do is part daily to change past stigmas.

“I knew I wanted to help change the stigma,” he said. “We all know Asbury Park for its history of music, and there are great art galleries as well, but I wanted to add my own art. I want to show people that theater isn’t just in a formal setting, it can happen anywhere and by working with Project REAL, we are able to make that happen.”

Through his work at Asbury Park Now, Yee said he’s been able to engage with the community and its visitors.

“We walk the boardwalk and down Cookman Avenue, answering any questions visitors might have,” he said. “We do a lot of community work with the Boys and Girls Club. We have morning fitness classes, boot camp and yoga classes whose proceeds are given to the Boys and Girls Club. We also help out with the soup kitchen at Trinity Church [located on Asbury Avenue].

Yee, who also works the box office at Two River Theater in Red Bank, said the city has become a second home.

“Any extra time I may have is spent volunteering at Project REAL,” he said. “Asbury Park is an incredibly rich environment for the arts and it seems only fitting to bring “Don’t Let Me Go” back to the wonderful city.”

Don’t Let Me Go will run at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Project REAL, located at 805 Fourth Avenue. The suggested $5 donation will go toward further development of the play.

The two act play runs for two hours with a 15 minute intermission, Yee said. Its cast and crew are all theater majors or professionals.

“We hope to open your eyes on who we are as human beings and to see our flaws, our perfections, and ourselves,” Yee said. “Flaws and all.”

THE CAST:
MARK – Gustavo Brito
JASON – Andy Mako
TONY – Stephen Doucette
ETHAN – Christopher Erbe
ALLIE – Jaime Marcinczyk
SARAH – Lexie Calabro
BRITTANY – Bailie Stypa
NICKI – Samantha Sanchez

THE CREW:
Director – Matthew Yee
Set Designer – Dan Seitz
Costume Designer – Alanna Whitesell
Lighting Designer – Dan Seitz
Rehearsal Stage Manager – Melissa Javorek
Media Consultant – Laura Vedder

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