Broadway's Good Night, and Good Luck has recouped its initial investment in just seven-and-a-half weeks at the Winter Garden Theatre, having opened April 3.
Starring and co-written by George Clooney, the screen-to-stage play has been regularly Broadway's top-grossing production, a rarity for a non-musical. The production was the first straight play in Broadway history to surpass $4 million in one week last week, joining an elite group of productions to see grosses that high that includes The Lion King, Wicked, and Hamilton.
It bares mentioning the production has achieved this thanks to the powerful combo of the large-capacity Winter Garden Theatre (the Shubert-owned venue seats 1,537) and expensive tickets; last week, 12,536 theatregoers paid an average of $319.36 to see the play, with first-party sales topping out at an eye-popping $825. The production is one of several on the boards currently getting attention for exorbitant ticket prices, a distinction led by the Denzel Washington- and Jake Gyllenhaal-led revival of Shakespeare's Othello (which has also quickly recouped). At the smaller Ethel Barrymore (that theatre seats 1,043), tickets are going for an average of $367.42 and reaching as high as $897.
Good Night has become yet another example of the phenomenon of commercial success not always going hand-in-hand with Tony Awards. The production picked up five nominations when the full list came out May 1, with all of its physical design getting recognition alongside a nom for Clooney as a performer. Notably missing from that list were nominations for David Cromer's direction and Best Play, which would have recognized both the producing team (led by Seaview, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Smokehouse, Jean Doumanian, and Robert Fox) and playwrights Clooney and Grant Heslov. Given the weekly box office take, it's doubtful any involved are too upset.
A work of historical drama, Good Night, and Good Luck centers on a clash between famed journalist Edward R. Murrow and infamous U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy, of anti-communist HUAC fame. The title comes from Murrow's broadcast sign-off.
Clooney also co-wrote the project's 2005 film version with Heslov, and directed and starred as well, as Murrow's co-producer Fred W. Friendly. Clooney is taking on the role of Edward R. Murrow in this stage version, played by David Strathairn on screen. Cromer is directing.
In addition to Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck features Ilana Glazer (Broad City) as Shirley Wershba, Clark Gregg (Agents of Shield) as Don Hollenbeck, Mac Brandt as Colonel Anderson, Will Dagger as Don Hewitt, Christopher Denham as John Aaron, Glenn Fleshler as Fred Friendly, Paul Gross as William F. Paley, Georgia Heers as Ella, Carter Hudson as Joe Wershba, Fran Kranz as Palmer Williams, Jennifer Morris as Millie Green, Michael Nathanson as Eddie Scott, Andrew Polk as Charlie Mack, and Aaron Roman Weiner as Don Surine.
The ensemble includes R. Ward Duffy, Joe Forbrich, Imani Rousselle, Greg Stuhr, JD Taylor, and Sophia Tzougros.
The creative team includes Tony-winning scenic designer Scott Pask, lighting designer Heather Gilbert, video and projections designer David Bengali, sound designer Daniel Kluger, costume designer Brenda Abbandandolo, hair and wig designer Leah J. Loukas, voice and dialect coach Gigi Buffington, music supervisors Daniel Kluger and Bryan Carter, and casting director David Caparelliotis.
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George Clooney and company of Good Night, and Good Luck
George Clooney in Good Night, and Good Luck
Company of Good Night, and Good Luck
George Clooney in Good Night, and Good Luck
Paul Gross and George Clooney in Good Night, and Good Luck
George Clooney and Clark Gregg in Good Night, and Good Luck
George Clooney in Good Night, and Good Luck
Company of Good Night, and Good Luck
Company of Good Night, and Good Luck
Ilana Glazer in Good Night, and Good Luck
George Clooney in Good Night, and Good Luck
