George Clooney can now add Broadway to his long list of entertainment accomplishments!
The actor made his debut on the Great White Way Wednesday, March 12, in the first preview of “Good Night and Good Luck” at the Winter Garden Theater.
The show is an adaptation of Clooney’s 2005 movie by the same name. Both tell the story of legendary newsman Edward R. Murrow’s exposé of Senator Joseph McCarthy. McCarthy is the Wisconsin senator whose name spawned the word “McCarthyism” when he launched a campaign falsely accusing people of being Communists in the 1940’s and 50’s.
In the movie version, Clooney played Murrow’s producer Fred Friendly, deciding he didn’t have “the gravitas” to take on the Murrow role in his 40’s. Fast forward 20 years and all of that has changed, with Clooney stepping into Murrow’s shoes on the stage.
George Clooney Goes to Great Lengths to Become Edward R Murrow
Clooney wrote the screenplay for the movie and the script for the Broadway adaptation with his longtime collaborator Grant Heslov. Clooney also directed the cinematic version, mortgaging his house to help finance the black-and-white film.
In the end, it received six Oscar nominations, including best screenplay.
Now, to bring Murrow to life on stage, the actor is going to great lengths to inhabit the character. He has dyed his hair jet black and spent a great deal of time smoking to mimic Murrow’s famous three-pack-a-day habit before dying of lung cancer at the age of 57.
Unique Production Employs Mixed Media to Tell the Story
George Clooney says in addition to live-action, theater-goers will see the stage transformed into a newsroom with about 30 monitors moving around, showing old footage.
David Cromer, the play’s Tony Award-winning director, says he wants to “recreate what it’s like to watch television being made.”
“We’re going to do it onstage with cameras and live feed to mix with the real footage,” Cromer says, “so you’ll see George and then you’ll see Joseph McCarthy and you’ll see George and you’ll see Joseph McCarthy.” As in the film, the play uses actual footage of Senator McCarthy.
Clooney jokes, “McCarthy is still played by McCarthy, which I’m fairly sure he’s going to get a Tony for.”
How to See ‘Good Night and Good Luck’ on Broadway
“Good Night and Good Luck” is currently in previews at the Winter Garden Theater. The play’s official opening night is April 3. It runs through June 8. For tickets, go to this website.
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VIDEO: George Clooney Makes Broadway Opening Night