If you're sad you missed Good Night, and Good Luck on Broadway starring George Clooney, you're in luck. Back on June 7, the stage production was filmed by CNN and broadcast on the network. And now that live stage capture is available to purchase on demand (for $19.99) via Amazon, under the title Good Night, and Good Luck: Live on Broadway. A DVD release is scheduled for December 30. Watch the trailer above.
Clooney co-wrote the play with Grant Heslov, and the two adapted it from their 2005 film of the same name; the stage production was directed by David Cromer. The play takes place at the height of the Red Scare, as Senator Joseph McCarthy was prosecuting anyone suspicious of having Communist ties. On his CBS news show, journalist Edward R. Murrow takes the risk of calling out McCarthy, despite fears of repercussions from the federal government. Murrow's words decrying disinformation and fearmongering puts a damper on McCarthyism—though it also leads to Murrow's show losing its lead sponsor.
The play broke box-office records when it ran at the Winter Garden, becoming the first play to gross over $4 million in one week. It grossed over $48 million cumulatively and had a staggering average ticket price of $311. It was nominated for five Tony Awards. The CNN broadcast, captured by 27 cameras, drew 2.011 television viewers in the U.S. and 7.34 million globally.
In an interview with Deadline, Clooney said he sees the play as "a form of resistance," saying the current political climate reminds him of McCarthyism: "Now it's the President of the United States trying to pressure media to censor themselves."
He also reflected on the experience of performing Good Night, and Good Luck live: "By the end, when I ask the audience, what are you prepared to do [the final line Murrow delivers in the play, directly to the audience], they’re just weeping. It was a cathartic and I think helpful moment for a lot of people, to be reminded that we can be better than this. That we are actually the country that defeated fascism and Nazism and overcame some of our greatest mistakes, particularly slavery. And we’re still a work in progress. But we have achieved such incredible things as well, and we need to rise above some of the issues that we’re facing, these issues that don’t reflect who we are. They’re not who we are."
In addition to Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck features Ilana Glazer (Broad City) as Shirley Wershba, Clark Gregg (Agents of Shield) as Don Hollenbeck, Mac Brandt as Colonel Anderson, Will Dagger as Don Hewitt, Christopher Denham as John Aaron, Glenn Fleshler as Fred Friendly, Paul Gross as William F. Paley, Georgia Heers as Ella, Carter Hudson as Joe Wershba, Fran Kranz as Palmer Williams, Jennifer Morris as Millie Green, Michael Nathanson as Eddie Scott, Andrew Polk as Charlie Mack, and Aaron Roman Weiner as Don Surine.
The ensemble includes R. Ward Duffy, Joe Forbrich, Imani Rousselle, Greg Stuhr, JD Taylor, and Sophia Tzougros.
The creative team includes Tony-winning scenic designer Scott Pask, lighting designer Heather Gilbert, video and projections designer David Bengali, sound designer Daniel Kluger, costume designer Brenda Abbandandolo, hair and wig designer Leah J. Loukas, voice and dialect coach Gigi Buffington, music supervisors Daniel Kluger and Bryan Carter, and casting director David Caparelliotis.
The broadcast was executive produced by George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Deena Katz, Todd Wagner, and Jeff Skoll. The filmed live stage capture is being distributed by Magnolia Pictures.
George Clooney and company of Good Night, and Good Luck
George Clooney in Good Night, and Good Luck
Company of Good Night, and Good Luck
George Clooney in Good Night, and Good Luck
Paul Gross and George Clooney in Good Night, and Good Luck
George Clooney and Clark Gregg in Good Night, and Good Luck
George Clooney in Good Night, and Good Luck
Company of Good Night, and Good Luck
Company of Good Night, and Good Luck
Ilana Glazer in Good Night, and Good Luck
George Clooney in Good Night, and Good Luck
