History is in the making with “Good Night & Good Luck” on Broadway! with record audience !

WHY TELL THIS STORY NOW?

Clooney and Heslov wrote the 2005 screenplay as a response to the United States actions in the Iraq War. Unfortunately, the universal themes of speaking truth to power are more relevant now than ever.

“I think it’s a story that you can keep telling over and over,” Heslov told CBS’s 60 Minutes. “I don’t think it will ever thematically get old.”

They chose to adapt the story for the stage because of the Trump administration’s actions to discredit the media. While the president laments so-called “fake news,” journalists play an important role in educating the public and keeping public officials honest.

“When the other three estates fail, when the judiciary and the executive and the legislative branches fail us, the fourth estate has to succeed,” Clooney added during the 60 Minutes interview.

He went on to say that a recent ABC News settlement with the Trump administration was scary. In a similar vein, CBS is trying to get a $20 billion lawsuit that claims 60 Minutes committed election interference dismissed.

Additionally, Trump continues to cherry-pick which outlets get access to him while attempting to defund news organizations such as NPR.

“We’re seeing this idea of using government to scare or fine, or use corporations to make journalists smaller,” Clooney explained.

Clooney’s father, Nick Clooney, was a respected broadcast journalist. The younger Clooney followed in his father’s political-party footsteps and is a lifelong Democrat.

HOW CAN I WATCH OR STREAM THE BROADWAY PLAY LIVE?

Because this story is so personal to Clooney, he is doing his part to bring the show’s important and timely message to an even wider audience beyond the Big Apple. He partnered with CNN to accomplish this. 

Thanks to 20 cameras and 14 camera operators, audiences around the world can feel like they are in the room where it happened.

“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,” Clooney stated in a press release.

Before the metaphorical curtain rises, CNN’s Pamela Brown will host a pre-show outside of the Winter Garden Theatre, beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.

The play will begin at 7 p.m. ET and runs an hour and 40 minutes, with no intermission. After the play, CNN’s Anderson Cooper will host a special, discussing the current state of journalism. He will be joined by a slew of notable guests including Connie Chung and Marvin Kalb.

Traditional cable subscribers can watch the pre-show, play, and post-show discussion on CNN and CNN International. 

Cord-cutters can stream the theatrical experience on CNN.com/GoodNightGoodLuck and do not need a cable login. It will also be available on HBO Max at all subscription levels.