Ghost Light: The Year Broadway Went Dark—CBS Reports Documentary

In this compelling CBS Reports documentary, Ghost Light: The Year Broadway Went Dark, viewers are taken behind the curtains during Broadway’s unprecedented 18‑month COVID-19 shutdown. Featuring personal stories from ushers, stagehands, actors, and composers, the film reveals how the industry—not just performers—endured a sudden halt to their livelihoods.

Music director Dan Micciche shares how “this is something you've worked and trained [for]... to have that ripped away,” highlighting the uncertainty that devastated many careers. From anxiety about paying rent to pivoting into new jobs—like actors working in real estate—the documentary underscores the widespread ripple effects felt across every level of Broadway’s ecosystem.

Yet through it all, the enduring theater tradition of the ghost light—a lone bulb left burning center stage—served as a beacon of hope and unity. As Tony‑winner Chuck Cooper reflects, “the light of understanding, the light of compassion… never extinguished”.

For fans of Natalie Charlé Ellis and the broader Broadway community, Ghost Light is a moving tribute to the grit, creativity, and collective spirit that kept the Great White Way alive through its darkest days.