Good Night, and Good Luck (play)
Updated: 12/11/2025, 9:04:47 AM Wikipedia source
Good Night, and Good Luck is a historical drama play written by George Clooney and Grant Heslov. It is adapted from their 2005 film and focuses on the conflict between veteran CBS journalist Edward R. Murrow and U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy. The play's Broadway premiere in March 2025, directed by David Cromer, starred Clooney as Murrow, making his Broadway debut. The play received mostly positive reviews, with critics praising its themes, direction, lead performance and scenic design, though some questioned its use of projections and whether it improved on the film. The production has enjoyed strong box office returns. It was nominated for five Tony Awards, including best actor for Clooney and four design awards. The June 7 performance was broadcast live on CNN and CNN International and streamed live, becoming the first Broadway production to be aired live on television. The final performance of the play was on June 8, 2025.
Infobox
Written by
George ClooneyGrant Heslov
Based on
Good Night, and Good Luckby George ClooneyGrant Heslov
Directed by
David Cromer
Characters
Edward R. MurrowDon Hollenbeck
Date premiered
March 12, 2025 (2025-03-12)
Place premiered
Winter Garden Theatre
Original language
English
Genre
Historical drama
Tables
· Cast and characters
2025
2025
Characters
2025
Edward R. Murrow
Edward R. Murrow
Characters
Edward R. Murrow
Broadway
George Clooney
Shirley Wershba
Shirley Wershba
Characters
Shirley Wershba
Broadway
Ilana Glazer
Fred W. Friendly
Fred W. Friendly
Characters
Fred W. Friendly
Broadway
Glenn Fleshler
Don Hollenbeck
Don Hollenbeck
Characters
Don Hollenbeck
Broadway
Clark Gregg
Joseph Wershba
Joseph Wershba
Characters
Joseph Wershba
Broadway
Carter Hudson
William S. Paley
William S. Paley
Characters
William S. Paley
Broadway
Paul Gross
John Aaron
John Aaron
Characters
John Aaron
Broadway
Christopher Denham
Palmer Williams
Palmer Williams
Characters
Palmer Williams
Broadway
Fran Kranz
Colonel Anderson
Colonel Anderson
Characters
Colonel Anderson
Broadway
Mac Brandt
Don Hewitt
Don Hewitt
Characters
Don Hewitt
Broadway
Will Dagger
Ella / Jazz Singer
Ella / Jazz Singer
Characters
Ella / Jazz Singer
Broadway
Georgia Heers
| Characters | Broadway |
| 2025 | |
| Edward R. Murrow | George Clooney |
| Shirley Wershba | Ilana Glazer |
| Fred W. Friendly | Glenn Fleshler |
| Don Hollenbeck | Clark Gregg |
| Joseph Wershba | Carter Hudson |
| William S. Paley | Paul Gross |
| John Aaron | Christopher Denham |
| Palmer Williams | Fran Kranz |
| Colonel Anderson | Mac Brandt |
| Don Hewitt | Will Dagger |
| Ella / Jazz Singer | Georgia Heers |
· Accolades › 2025 Broadway production
2025
Outstanding Direction of a Play
Role(s)
David Cromer
Notes
Nominated
Distinguished Performance
Role(s)
George Clooney
Notes
Nominated
Role(s)
John Gassner Award (new American play)
Notes
George Clooney and Grant Heslov
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
| 2025 | Tony Awards | Best Actor in a Play | George Clooney | Nominated | |
| Best Scenic Design of a Play | Scott Pask | Nominated | |||
| Best Costume Design of a Play | Brenda Abbandandolo | Nominated | |||
| Best Lighting Design of a Play | Heather Gilbert and David Bengali | Nominated | |||
| Best Sound Design of a Play | Daniel Kluger | Nominated | |||
| Drama League Award | Outstanding Production of a Play | Good Night, and Good Luck | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Direction of a Play | David Cromer | Nominated | |||
| Distinguished Performance | George Clooney | Nominated | |||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | John Gassner Award (new American play) | George Clooney and Grant Heslov | Won | ||
| Theater World Award | Outstanding Broadway Debut Performer/Playwright | George Clooney | Honored |
References
- Good Night, and Good Luckhttps://playbill.com/article/george-clooney-will-star-in-broadway-adaptation-of-good-night-and-good-luck
- Good Night, and Good Luckhttps://people.com/george-clooney-memorizing-his-lines-for-broadway-is-a-nightmare-11682190
- Buena Vista Social Clubhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/2025-tony-awards-nominees-full-list-nominations-1236204935/
- Good Night, and Good Luckhttps://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2025-06-07/good-night-and-good-luck-review-george-clooney-cnn-live
- Good Night, and Good Luckhttps://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/cnn-george-clooney-good-night-and-good-luck-edward-r-murrow-b2765822.html
- CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/george-clooney-broadway-journalism-60-minutes/
- CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/george-clooney-edward-r-murrow-broadway-60-minutes-transcript/
- Ross, Dalton. "Good Night, and Good Luck review: George Clooney brings the story from screen to stage … and back to screhttps://ew.com/good-night-and-good-luck-review-george-clooney-play-stage-screen-broadway-11706732
- Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoaLYLOps8I
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/20/theater/george-clooney-broadway-good-night-good-luck.html
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/film/news/donald-trump-attacks-george-clooney-movie-star-1236346272
- Newsweekhttps://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-trashes-george-clooney-second-rate-movie-star-2049473
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/24/donald-trump-george-clooney-60-minutes-criticism
- Good Nighthttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/style/george-clooney-good-night-good-luck-broadway-party.html
- Alvin, Richard. "The slow death of the fourth estate – and why George Clooney’s Broadway revival hits harder than he thihttps://bmmagazine.co.uk/opinion/the-slow-death-of-the-fourth-estate-and-why-george-clooneys-broadway-revival-hits-harder-than-he-thinks
- "Ilana Glazer, Clark Gregg, Paul Gross Joining George Clooney on Broadway in Good Night, and Good Luck"https://www.theatermania.com/news/ilana-glazer-clark-gregg-paul-gross-joining-george-clooney-on-broadway-in-good-night-and-good-luck_1763232
- Good Night, and Good Luckhttps://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Video-George-Clooney-Explains-Why-GOOD-NIGHT-AND-GOOD-LUCK-Still-Resonates-20250324
- People Magazinehttps://people.com/good-night-and-good-luck-on-broadway-see-the-stars-at-opening-11705639
- Good Night, and Good Luckhttps://playbill.com/article/broadway-grosses-analysis-bonkers-final-weeks-for-good-night-and-good-luck-and-othello-send-broadway-box-office-soaring
- Huston, Caitlin. "Broadway Box Office: Good Night and Good Luck Breaks Weekly Record for Highest Grossing Play", The Holhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/good-night-good-luck-breaks-record-highest-grossing-play-1236191472
- Good Night, and Good Luckhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/broadway-box-office-good-night-and-good-luck-becomes-first-play-to-surpass-4m-1236208980/
- Johnson, Ted. "CNN Gets a Big Viewership Bump With Live Telecast of Good Night, and Good Luck, Deadline, June 10, 2025https://deadline.com/2025/06/cnn-good-night-and-good-luck-ratings-1236429515
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/theater/good-night-and-good-luck-review.html
- April 4, 2025https://variety.com/2025/legit/reviews/good-night-and-good-luck-review-george-clooney-broadway-3-1236354970/
- Vulturehttps://www.vulture.com/article/theater-review-george-clooney-good-night-and-good-luck-broadway.html
- Time Outhttps://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/good-night-and-good-luck-broadway-play-review-george-clooney-murrow
- New York Stage Reviewhttps://nystagereview.com/2025/04/03/good-night-and-good-luck-movie-to-stage-to-video/
- Theater Maniahttps://www.theatermania.com/news/review-george-clooneys-good-night-and-good-luck-has-good-intentions-but-lives-in-an-echo-chamber_1769393/
- TheaterManiahttps://www.theatermania.com/news/drama-league-announces-2025-award-nominees_1771269/
- Maybe Happy Endinghttps://playbill.com/article/maybe-happy-ending-leads-2025-outer-critics-circle-awards-see-the-full-list-of-winners
- Playbillhttps://playbill.com/article/kit-connor-paul-mescal-jasmine-amy-rogers-helen-j-shen-more-are-2025-theatre-world-award-winners