With Good Night, and Good Luck, a stage adaptation of his own 2005 film, George Clooney made a spectacular debut on Broadway. In just seven previews, the play grossed $3,3 million, setting a new record for a non-musical play, previously held by Othello starring Denzel Washington. Driven by average ticket sales of over $300 and a 1-seat venue—the Winter Garden Theater—this commercial success confirms the enormous anticipation surrounding this production, even before its official premiere scheduled for April 545.
A stage return after a 40-year absence
George Clooney plays Edward R. Murrow, the legendary CBS journalist who publicly challenged Senator McCarthy during the height of McCarthyism. A powerful and symbolic role, co-written with his regular partner Grant Heslov, that echoes current concerns about the power of the media. Unlike in the film, where he played producer Fred Friendly, Clooney here presents the audience with a completely different perspective.
This return to the theater, which he hadn't performed since 1986, filled him with nervousness, as he admitted to Reuters. But the enthusiastic reception from audiences, combined with the impact of this play, both political and intimate, seems to give him wings. Good Night, and Good Luck isn't just a box-office success; it also confirms Clooney's ability to combine commitment and spectacle, on the big screen as well as on stage.
