If producers ever had any doubt of a celebrity's effect on the box office, they need only look at this current theater season to see ticket prices. Popular movie star George Clooney is packing the Winter Garden Theatre and premium tickets are going for $777.

Clooney and Grant Heslov adapted their movie “Good Night and Good Luck" into a stage play, this time starring Clooney as the protagonist Edward R. Murrow, the iconic and heroic broadcast journalist. Murrow had a long and prestigious career, and the play focuses on his decision to ‘take on’ Joseph McCarthy, the junior Senator from Wisconsin, risking the wrath of CBS sponsors, the owner of the network William Paley, and, of course, McCarthy himself. ( We need only look at the headlines today to witness a politician seeking revenge against journalists and others who crossed him. )

Most people were only at the show to see Clooney who was making his Broadway debut. The actor was good, so they weren’t disappointed. He’s serious, sober, somewhat imperious. His character is in control yet approachable. What’s impressive is how the good-looking Clooney resembles the journalist, even standing slightly stooped over. And , of course, he always has a cigarette in his mouth.

The entire staff rotates around Murrow, the acknowledged king of the newsroom. Producer Fred. W. Friendly (Glenn Fleshler) defers to him and Murrow is confident enough to call his own shots. (Clooney played the role of Friendly in the movie.)

The musical introduction and later interludes set the tone and time frame. Ella (Georgia Heers) performs several songs from the time period and she’s onstage with her band recording. Although the talented Heers is attractive and sings well, her appearance seems like an unnecessary filler.

One of the most emotional moments comes when Don Hollenbeck (played by a reserved and compelling Clark Gregg) commits suicide. Hollenbeck was a fellow journalist and news commentator who was driven to his decision partly by McCarthy supporter Jack O'Brien. Upon hearing the news, the people in the newsroom become quiet and sober. Although the actual event shows the damage that McCarthyism had on the country and the fear people felt, the moment isn’t as moving as it should have been.

The stage production, with the constantly - changing set of the TV station (design by Scott Pask,) is quite fascinating. With a series of TV monitors flanking the sides of the stage, the audience watches Murrow deliver his broadcasts and later the actual ‘rebuttal’ that McCarthy recorded. McCarthy lies about Murrow and, undoubtedly, many listeners would have believed him, but fortunately Murrow was able to refute those lies.

Director David Cromer has gathered a fine supporting cast to play the real life people who worked with Murrow : Mac Brandt as Colonel Anderson, Will Dagger as Don Hewitt, Christopher Denham as John Aaron,, Fran Kranz as Palmer Williams, Jennifer Morris as Millie Green, Michael Nathanson as Eddie Scott, Andrew Polk as Charlie Mack, Aaron Roman Weiner as Don Surine.

At the end there’s a montage of photos, from news and entertainment- that includes 70 years of images up to modern times showing the effect and power of the medium. After reading about Murrow years ago, I felt a great deal of respect for the man. Yet I wonder if people who see the play who don’t know the scope of his accomplishments will get the sense of how impressive he truly was or will they feel the experience is all about Clooney?