CNN will air the second-to-last performance of “Good Night, and Good Luck,” the record-breaking play written by and starring George Clooney in which he portrays legendary broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow.
“Good Night, and Good Luck” will air its penultimate performance at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre live on Saturday, June 7, at 7 p.m. ET across CNN, CNN International and streaming on cnn.com. The livestream will be available without requiring a cable log-in on digital platforms. Per CNN, it’s the first time a live play on Broadway will be televised.
Clooney said in a statement, “I can’t tell you how exciting it is to do something that’s never been done. CNN is the perfect place to bring this story of courage to so many more people than we could have ever hoped. Live TV. No net. Buckle up everyone.”
In the play, Clooney made his Broadway debut as Murrow, showcasing his history-altering on-air showdown with Sen. Joseph McCarthy. As McCarthyism casts a shadow over America, Murrow and his news team choose to confront the growing tide of paranoia and propaganda, even if it means turning the federal government and a worried nation against them. “Good Night, and Good Luck” closes its theatrical run with a matinee performance on Sunday, June 8, in New York City.
“’Good Night, and Good Luck’ is not just a celebration of a golden age in TV journalism,” CNN CEO Mark Thompson said. “It’s also about the importance of the free press and the need for strong news organizations to report the facts in a fair-minded way. That’s something we still care deeply about.”
Following the production, CNN will host an exclusive “Good Night, and Good Luck” special to discuss the play and the state of global journalism.
“Good Night, and Good Luck” was nominated for five Tony Awards, including leading actor in a play for Clooney. The play, directed by Tony winner David Cromer, recently made history by becoming the highest-grossing play in Broadway history, and the first play to surpass a gross of $4 million in a single week. In partnership with TodayTix, the production also recently subsidized 2,000 tickets for New York City high school students, including those studying journalism, to attend the show.
“Good Night, and Good Luck,” co-written by Clooney and Grant Heslov, is directed by Tony winner David Cromer. Producers are Seaview, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Jean Doumanian and Robert Fox.
