Join "Camp David" at The Old Globe

Camp David is a political play driven by humor and touching moments, and it’s coming to The Old Globe on May 13th! Set in the ‘70s in the wake of several hostile Israeli-Arab wars, the play chronicles a certain event of September 1978: President Carter invited Manachem Begin (Prime Minister of Israel), and Anwar Sadat (President of Egypt) to Camp David, the mysterious presidential retreat with a gasp-worthy pool. Walt Spangler’s ethereal forest sets put you right in this idyllic environment with fading trees, a dappled floor, period clothing, and a rustic cabin.

Over the course of 13 legendary days, a Muslim, a Jew, and a born-again Christian fashioned a treaty so peaceful that nobody has been able to replicate its effects since. This was an unforgettable agreement that shocked yet inspired the world, and now you can watch it unfold through painstakingly recreated dialogue. 

The Old Globe's production of Camp David boasts a first-rate cast and crew. First, this marks the return of original director Molly Smith, the artistic chief of the Arena Stage in DC. The play is written by Lawrence Wright, who won the Pulitzer Prize in journalism for The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11. Wright also authored an acclaimed nonfiction book called Thirteen Days in September, which later became the script for Camp David.

As for the actors themselves, there are only four of them. Manachem Begin will be played by Ned Eisenberg, known for playing Roger Kressler on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Anwar Sadat will be played by Egyptian film star Khaled Nabawy; Sadat has mostly acted in Egyptian titles and is slated to act in a 2017 Mission Impossible movie. Jimmy Carter will be played by Richard Thomas, a seasoned actor who has played murderers, won Emmys, starred on Broadway, and done voiceovers on allergy commercials. For veterans of The Old Globe, Thomas recently played Iago in the Globe's production of Othello. Rosalynn Carter will be played by Hallie Foote, who received a Tony nomination for her 2008 Broadway performance of Dividing the Estate. The music and sound was designed by David Van Tieghem, known for using unusual objects as percussion.

Camp David, heavily drawn from Mrs. Rosalynn Carter’s private diary, reveals the first lady as an ample source of guidance during the Camp David talks. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter both played a large part in the making of Camp David, participating in hours of interviews. Now that the play has been touring, Jimmy Carter has declared himself a fan. He maintains his character was modeled impeccably after him, and that the staged talks bring up overwhelming emotions. 

The play runs from May 13th to June 19th. Get your tickets at The Old Globe!