Jay Ellis and Stephanie Nur star in 'Duke & Roya'

A new Off-Broadway play called Duke & Roya is set to premiere this summer, starring Jay Ellis and Stephanie Nur. Ellis is known for his role in the HBO series Insecure, while Nur has appeared in Paramount+ series Lioness. The play is written by Charles Randolph-Wright, who is also known for the play Blue. John Legend, Mike Jackson, and Ty Stiklorius are among the producers, working with director Warren Adams, who recently directed Superhero Off-Broadway. Duke & Roya will open at the Lucille Lortel Theater on June 24, with performances starting on June 10. It is scheduled for an 11-week run. The story explores a love affair between Duke, an American hip-hop star, and Roya, an Afghan interpreter, as they navigate their different cultures and backgrounds. In addition to Ellis and Nur, the cast includes Noma Dumezweni, known for her role in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and Dariush Kashani, who has appeared in Broadway productions like Oslo and The Band’s Visit. The producers expressed their excitement, calling the play “daring and provocative” and highlighting the talents of the lead actors. They look forward to presenting this heartfelt story to New York audiences.