Duke & Roya
Ages: 13+
Closing: August 02, 2025Duke & Roya - 2025 Off-Broadway History , Info & More
Lucille Lortel Theatre
121 Christopher St (between Hudson & Bleeker Sts) New York, NY 10014
Jay Ellis (Top Gun: Maverick, Insecure) and Stephanie Nur (Lioness, 1883) ignite the stage in this gripping new drama about love, survival, and impossible choices. Discover the electrifying connection between Duke (Ellis), an international hip-hop artist, and Roya (Nur), a fearless Afghan interpreter, who find love in the unlikeliest of places: war-torn Kabul. As their worlds collide, they must navigate cultural divides, make personal sacrifices, and fight for their future in a world determined to keep them apart. Is their bond strong enough to survive?
Duke & Roya - 2025 - Off-Broadway Cast
FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Duke & Roya
Duke & Roya: Finding Love in a Hopeless Place
7 / 10
There’s also a somewhat confusing subplot concerning Roya and a prisoner named Behrouz that neither Randolph-Wright nor director Warren Adams manage to make work. Then again, the course of true love never did run smooth.
Swoon Over This Summer’s Most Unlikely Love Story
7 / 10
Fair warning: Duke & Roya is slow. Transitions between scenes feel labored. But its design (Wilson Chin), lighting (Amina Alexander), and projections (Caite Hevner) are spare and attractive, and the performances are so well-observed, the humor so subtle, and the gentle slow-burn of romance, familial conflict, and resolution so genuine that you find yourself watching it with exactly the same happily seduced expression as one of those rainy-day romantic comedies.
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DUKE & ROYA to Play Final Performance at The Lucille Lortel Theatre in August
by Chloe Rabinowitz - July 29, 2025
by Chloe Rabinowitz - July 29, 2025
Duke & Roya will play its final performance at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. At the time of closing, the production will have played 14 preview performances and 47 regular performances. Learn how to purchase tickets to its final performances.
Video: Jay Ellis Is Taking a Creative Leap to the Stage
by Robert Bannon - July 11, 2025
by Robert Bannon - July 11, 2025
Jay Ellis joins the show to talk about his captivating new theatrical project, Duke & Roya, now playing at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. Known for his standout roles in Insecure and Top Gun: Maverick, Ellis takes a bold creative leap into the world of off-Broadway as both a performer and producer. Watch in this video!
Photos: DUKE & ROYA Opens at the Lucille Lortel Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - June 25, 2025
by A.A. Cristi - June 25, 2025
Check out photos from last night's opening night performance of Duke & Roya. In attendance were producers John Legend and Mike Jackson of Get Lifted Film Co., Naturi-Naughton Lewis and Two Lewis, and special guests Adrienne Warren, André Holland, Quincy Williams, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Angela Yee, Bevy Smith and more.
Photos: DUKE & ROYA Takes Opening Night Bows
by Jennifer Broski - June 25, 2025
by Jennifer Broski - June 25, 2025
Duke & Roya is officially open at the Lucille Lortel Theatre! The new play stars Jay Ellis, Stephanie Nur, Olivier Award winner and Tony Award nominee Noma Dumezweni and Dariush Kashani. The understudies for Duke & Roya are Ariana Afradi, Shirine Babb, René David Ifrah, and Jequrey Slaton. Check out pics from the opening nigh bows here!
Photos: DUKE & ROYA Opening Night Red Carpet
by Jennifer Broski - June 25, 2025
by Jennifer Broski - June 25, 2025
Duke & Roya, written by Charles Randolph-Wright and directed by Warren Adams, is officially open at the Lucille Lortel Theatre! BroadwayWorld was there for the big night and you can check out photos from the red carpet arrivals here.
Review Roundup: DUKE & ROYA at the Lucille Lortel Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - June 24, 2025
by A.A. Cristi - June 24, 2025
Check out reviews of Duke & Roya, opening tonight at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. Duke & Roya is written by acclaimed playwright Charles Randolph-Wright (Blue) and directed by Warren Adams.
Photos: DUKE & ROYA at the Lucille Lortel Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - June 20, 2025
by A.A. Cristi - June 20, 2025
Check out newly released production photos from Duke & Roya ahead of its opening night on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. Performances began on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street), with an official opening on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.
Spotlight: DUKE & ROYA at Lucille Lortel Theatre
by BWW Special Offer - June 13, 2025
by BWW Special Offer - June 13, 2025
Don't Miss Jay Ellis & Stephanie Nur in DUKE & ROYA - Tickets Start at $49. Jay Ellis (Top Gun: Maverick, Insecure) and Stephanie Nur (Lioness, 1883) ignite the stage in this gripping new drama about love, survival, and impossible choices.
Kerry Washington, Pilar Savone, and Simpson Street Join DUKE & ROYA Producing Team
by Stephi Wild - June 9, 2025
by Stephi Wild - June 9, 2025
Emmy Award winning producer, actor and filmmaker Kerry Washington, Pilar Savone, and their Simpson Street production banner will join the producing team of Duke & Roya,.
Duke & Roya History
Other Productions of Duke & Roya
| 2025 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway |
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