George Clooney Makes Broadway History with Good Night and Good Luck Live on CNN
George Clooney’s Broadway debut in Good Night and Good Luck becomes the first ever play broadcast live on CNN . Discover the historic performance cast critical acclaim and why it redefines the intersection of theater and journalism .
Broadway’s First Live TV Broadcast
On June 7 2025 George Clooney made Broadway history when his stage adaptation of Good Night and Good Luck became the first Broadway play ever broadcast live on CNN . The live performance staged at the Winter Garden Theatre was aired at 7 p.m. ET with a preshow hosted by CNNs Pamela Brown beginning at 6:30 p.m. The event was also available globally via CNN International CNNcom and Max CNNs streaming platform .
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Clooney’s Dual Role Star and CoWriter
This marks Clooney’s Broadway debut and he didn’t just act—he cowrote the play with longtime collaborator Grant Heslov . Clooney took on the role of Edward R Murrow the pioneering CBS journalist whose fearless reporting took on Senator Joseph McCarthy during the height of America’s antiCommunist fervor . The stage direction was helmed by Tony Award winner David Cromer .
A Story with Historical and Modern Relevance
Set in 1954 the play follows Murrow’s televised challenge to McCarthy’s tactics of fear and accusation . The themes of journalistic courage and the importance of truth are made vivid through innovative staging combining live action with projected archival footage to mirror the feel of a 1950s television broadcast—underscoring parallels with todays media climate .
AllStar Cast and Production
The cast features a blend of seasoned actors and fresh Broadway faces .
- Clark Gregg as Don Hollenbeck .
- Ilana Glazer as Shirley Wershba .
- Glenn Fleshler Carter Hudson and Paul Gross in supporting roles .
The creative team includes Scott Pask scenic design Heather Gilbert lighting David Bengali video projections Daniel Kluger sound and Brenda Abbandandolo costumes . The production is backed by notable producers including Seaview Sue Wagner John Johnson Jean Doumanian and Robert Fox .
Box Office and Tony Glory
After opening officially on April 3 2025 following March previews the play broke records grossing over 4 million in a single week—the highest grossing play week in Broadway history . It garnered five Tony Award nominations including Best Actor for Clooney and nominations for scenic costume lighting and sound design .
Behind the Scenes of the Broadcast
CNNs production offered a rich viewing experience with .
- Preshow interviews from the red carpet .
- The main performance live at 7 p.m. without cable login requirements .
- A postshow special hosted by Anderson Cooper featuring discussions with Scott Pelley Marvin Kalb and others on the legacy of Murrow and the role of media in democracy .
Clooney and Heslov served as executive producers of the broadcast alongside Deena Katz Todd Wagner and Jeff Skoll .
Clooney’s Reflections and Cultural Impact
Speaking to media outlets and on Late Night with Seth Meyers Clooney joked about dying his hair brown for the role and called it a horrible midlife crisis . Beyond humor he underscored the story’s urgency noting how media integrity is under similar threats today . Clooney called CNN the perfect partner to bring the story to a global audience .
Final Curtain and Legacy
The show concludes its Broadway run on June 8 2025 aligning with the 78th Tony Awards. The live broadcast ensures that the plays message of truth accountability and journalistic courage will live far beyond its final curtain .