Skip Netflix for Jay Ellis's Cinematic Off-Broadway Debut: Duke & Roya Review
- Sidney Marie
- Jun 25
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 27
Jay Ellis captivates in Duke & Roya, the Off-Broadway drama that feels like a binge-worthy series brought to life. Discover NYC's most cinematic live show!
No essays, just essentials. We’re breaking this down the usual way: what you need to know, how the show stacks up, and where to keep the night rolling.
The Need to Know Before the Show
Full Title: Duke & Roya
Theater: Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher Street, New York, NY 10014, map
Main Cast: Jay Ellis, Stephanie Nur, Noma Dumezweni, and Dariush Kashani
Running Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes, 15 minute intermission
Tickets: See Availability Here
Plot: A global superstar. A fearless interpreter. One cinematic love story in the middle of a war zone. Duke & Roya is about two people from radically different worlds: one powered by fame, the other shaped by survival. They’re trying to connect in the spaces between headlines. Duke is loud, charming, and used to being heard. Roya is observant, steady, and unwilling to be reduced. What starts as a spark turns into something deeper—not just a romance, but a quiet negotiation of identity, loss, and what it means to truly be seen.
All Eyez on Them: A Review of Duke & Roya
After bingeing Running Point, the Instagram algorithm instantly clocked me. Suddenly, Duke & Roya was everywhere on my feed, and honestly, they had me at a Jay Ellis romance. As a late-90s baby, I’m an easy target: give me a sweeping love story, a little chaos, and a good “from two different worlds” plot, and I’m all in. I recently skimmed a Duke & Roya review from when it was still called Love in Afghanistan, and it absolutely tore the show apart. But, I couldn’t help thinking the reviewer clearly wasn’t the intended audience.
This show is for those of us who grew up watching Aaliyah’s version of Romeo and Juliet and Nightmare on Elm Street “for the plot.” Duke & Roya carries an underlying commentary on the lingering effects of war, the cluelessness of those who are “unaffected,” and the fractured identities of those caught in the middle. But don’t expect a Spike Lee-level social exposé. At its core, from start to finish, it’s a love story. Think Hairspray tackling segregation or Parasite dissecting class inequality: the commentary is present, smart, and undeniable, but it doesn’t overpower the narrative. What is striking is the show’s timing. Its official opening lands just days after a certain POTUS decided to drag us into yet another conflict in the Middle East. Which makes Duke & Roya the kind of summer watch that hits a little harder than expected.
I didn’t catch Jay Ellis during his heartthrob era on Insecure, so Running Point was my only real reference point—and even then, he was giving more mysterious brooding coach than international rap star. So when I saw him as Duke, a character that could have easily slipped into caricature (corny pickup lines, try-hard rapping, Drake levels of wannabe gangster), I was pleasantly surprised. He walks into every scene like he owns it, oozing that over-the-top confidence of a man who has performed at the Grammys and believes his own lyrics are poetry.
That said, the rapping made me cringe. I watched the show with a friend who’s a professional singer, and she pointed out that the lack of a backing track might be why it felt a little hollow. Some musical texture could have softened the awkwardness. Still, even with the cringe, the rapping had a purpose. The lyrics became part of the dialogue, a way for Duke to process his experience and communicate his feelings for Roya.
The chemistry between Duke and Roya felt straight out of a '90s romance movie, the kind that makes you lean forward in your seat and forget to blink. It was binge-worthy. That classic will-they-won’t-they tension had me locked in like a good Netflix slow burn. Their romance works because it’s anchored equally: Jay Ellis brings the boldness, but Stephanie Nur’s performance as Roya is the grounding force. She gives Roya a calm strength that balances Duke’s larger-than-life energy, and I loved that her character stays true to herself, even when her heart might want otherwise.
If anything, I wish we saw a little more of how their relationship shaped them beyond the romance. The emotional arc hints at growth, but the ending felt a bit like one of those movie montages where time just passes. Still, what the show may rush in storytelling, it makes up for in vibe. The use of lighting and sound makes it feel cinematic, almost like you’re watching a film unfold in real time. It reminded me of the way Sweeney Todd on Broadway used shadow and spotlight to shape mood; it’s subtle, but powerful.
Duke & Roya isn’t trying to reinvent the romance genre. It’s simply reminding us why we fell in love with it in the first place. It blends old-school tropes with just enough modern edge to feel fresh, all while sneaking in some timely reflection on war, identity, and the stories we choose to pay attention to. If you grew up watching star-crossed lovers fight the odds and secretly hoped life might feel that dramatic one day, then this one’s for you. It’s not perfect, but it’s got heart, heat, and just the right amount of Hollywood magic for an NYC summer night out.
From Kabul to an Empire State of Mind: Where to go for a Duke & Roya inspired date
Before diving into the romantic push and pull of Duke & Roya, kick off your night with a dinner that mirrors the soul of the show at Ariana, an Afghan gem in Hell’s Kitchen. With richly spiced dishes and warm hospitality, it’s the perfect way to immerse yourself in the flavors of Kabul before curtain call.
After the show, keep the chemistry going with a cocktail at Las’ Lap. We like to think Duke would approve of this Michael B. Jordan-owned Caribbean rum bar, where hip-hop beats, island vibes, and strong pours set the tone for a stylish night out.
Want to keep the spark going? Our events calendar is full of summer pop-ups, rooftop hangs, and other heat-worthy plans to stretch your date into an all-night affair.
Snag a playbill selfie? Tag us @popupgirlsnyc—because we’re always here for a little showtime romance.
