# K2 (play)

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{{Short description|1982 American survival-drama play by Patrick Meyers}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox play
| name        = K2
| image       = 
| image_size  = 
| caption     = 
| writer      = Patrick Meyers
| setting     = A mountain ledge
| premiere = {{start date and age|1982|4|23}}
| place = [Arena Stage](/source/Arena_Stage), [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.)
<!-- Please do not include production-specific (acting, directing, etc.) awards -->
| awards      =
}}
'''''K2''''' is a [play](/source/Play_(theatre)) by Patrick Meyers. It tells the story of two mountain climbers who find themselves trapped on a ledge on [K2](/source/K2), the second-highest mountain in the world. The play premiered at the [Arena Stage](/source/Arena_Stage) in [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.) in April 1982.

==Synopsis==
''K2'' is a one-[act](/source/Act_(drama)) two-man play. It centers on mountain climbers Harold and Taylor, who find themselves trapped {{convert|27000|ft|m}} above [sea level](/source/sea_level) on a ledge on the side of [K2](/source/K2), the second-highest mountain in the world.<ref name=ibd>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/k2-4213|title=K2|publisher=[Internet Broadway Database](/source/Internet_Broadway_Database)|accessdate=July 25, 2019}}</ref><ref name=variety2001>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2001/legit/reviews/k2-2-1200466391/|title=K2|work=[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))|date=January 15, 2001|first=Paul|last=Harris|accessdate=July 25, 2019}}</ref><ref name=nyt1982>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/05/theater/theater-k2-a-drama-of-mountain-climbing.html|title=Theater: 'K2,' A Drama of Mountain-Climbing|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|date=May 5, 1982|first=Mel|last=Gussow|authorlink=Mel Gussow|accessdate=July 25, 2019}}</ref>

==Production history==
''K2'' first ran at the [Arena Stage](/source/Arena_Stage)'s Kreeger Theater from April 23 to June 6, 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arenastage.org/globalassets/press-room/institutional/production-history-revised-march-2019.pdf|title=Production History|page=10|publisher=[Arena Stage](/source/Arena_Stage)|accessdate=July 25, 2019}}</ref> The production was directed by [Jacques Levy](/source/Jacques_Levy) and starred [Stephen McHattie](/source/Stephen_McHattie) and [Stanley Anderson](/source/Stanley_Anderson). It received rave reviews from ''[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)'' and ''[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)'', particularly for [Ming Cho Lee](/source/Ming_Cho_Lee)'s hyper-realistic set design.<ref name=nyt1982/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1982/04/30/an-excellently-chilling-k-2/cecab79f-76e9-46f9-93ce-e1965cce84e4/|title=An Excellently Chilling 'K-2'|newspaper=[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)|date=April 30, 1982|first=Judith|last=Martin|authorlink=Judith Martin|accessdate=July 25, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1982/04/30/atop-k2-the-soul-on-the-brink/052dfab9-635e-4f21-877b-ecb75634b343/|title=Atop 'K2,' the Soul on the Brink|newspaper=[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)|date=April 30, 1982|first=David|last=Richards|authorlink=David Richards (writer)|accessdate=July 25, 2019}}</ref> Lee used over 50,000 [board feet](/source/board_feet) of [styrofoam](/source/styrofoam) to build a set that simulated a massive icy mountainside.<ref name=variety2001/>

The play opened at the [Brooks Atkinson Theatre](/source/Brooks_Atkinson_Theatre) on [Broadway](/source/Broadway_theatre) on March 30, 1983. This production was directed by [Terry Schreiber](/source/Terry_Schreiber) and starred [Jeffrey DeMunn](/source/Jeffrey_DeMunn) and [Jay Patterson](/source/Jay_Patterson). It closed on June 11, 1983, after 10 previews and 85 regular performances.<ref name=ibd/> ''K2'' received three nominations at the [37th Tony Awards](/source/37th_Tony_Awards), winning [Best Scenic Design](/source/Tony_Award_for_Best_Scenic_Design) for Lee's set.<ref name=ibd/>

From December 15, 2000, to January 28, 2001, the play was revived at the Arena Stage. [Wendy C. Goldberg](/source/Wendy_C._Goldberg) directed the revival which starred [Rick Holmes](/source/Rick_Holmes) and Craig Wallace.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/aint-no-mountain-high-enough-k2-returns-to-dcs-arena-stage-dec-15-jan-28-com-93849|title=Ain't No Mountain High Enough: K2 Returns to DC's Arena Stage Dec. 15–Jan. 28|work=[Playbill](/source/Playbill)|date=December 15, 2000|accessdate=July 25, 2019}}</ref> ''K2'' has also been staged by other [regional theaters](/source/Regional_theater_in_the_United_States), such as by the [Virginia Stage Company](/source/Virginia_Stage_Company) at the [Wells Theatre](/source/Wells_Theatre) in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pilotonline.com/entertainment/arts/vsc-builds--foot-climbable-mountain-face-for-k/article_b8f4e912-ec51-5d1c-8dbc-fe0940d06a5d.html|title=VSC builds 40-foot, climbable mountain face for "K2"|work=[The Virginian-Pilot](/source/The_Virginian-Pilot)|date=September 25, 2014|first=Mal|last=Vincent|accessdate=July 25, 2019}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Film adaptation==
The play was adapted into a [film of the same name](/source/K2_(film)) in 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-05-01-ca-1278-story.html|title=MOVIE REVIEW : 'K2': A Real Cliffhanger|work=[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)|date=May 1, 1992|first=Kenneth|last=Turan|authorlink=Kenneth Turan|accessdate=July 25, 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1982 plays
Category:Broadway plays
Category:American plays adapted into films
Category:Two-handers
Category:Works about climbing and mountaineering

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [K2 (play)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K2_(play)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K2_(play)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.