In the Elevator is an award-winning and critically acclaimed solo drama by New York–based Georgian playwright, screenwriter, director, and independent theatre producer Otar Pertakhia.
The production achieved major recognition at the United Solo Theatre Festival 2025 at Theatre Row, receiving the festival’s highest honor, the Best Drama Award, and becoming one of the season’s Best-Selling Shows. Its first performance sold out six months in advance, prompting the festival to add an additional date — a rare milestone within the festival’s history.
The production also marked a historic milestone for Georgian artists in New York. Otar Pertakhia became the first Georgian-born playwright to independently produce and direct his own play in English on the New York stage, and Ika Gogoladze became the first Georgian actor to perform a Georgian-written play in English in a professional New York theatre.
Blending surrealism, absurdist humor, and psychological realism, the play explores the unraveling inner world of a man trapped in an elevator, both literally and metaphorically, as he confronts fear, memory, identity, and power. The work has resonated with audiences for its immediacy, minimalist aesthetic, and emotional clarity, anchored by a powerful performance from Ika Gogoladze, praised for its precision, depth, and intensity.
Following its successful New York premiere and growing critical attention, In the Elevator is now entering its next phase of development. The production is preparing for extended runs, residencies, and potential Off-Broadway programming, with the goal of reaching wider audiences in New York City and beyond.
Learn More: https://unitedsolo.org/the-19th-annual-united-solo-theatre-festival/in-the-elevator/