Kerry Washington Joins Team for Duke & Roya Off-Broadway Debut

New York, NY – Emmy-winning producer Kerry Washington and Pilar Savone have joined the producing team for the new off-Broadway play, “Duke & Roya,” which premieres on June 10 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.

The play, written by Charles Randolph-Wright and directed by Warren Adams, explores themes of romance, identity, and culture. The story follows Duke, an American hip-hop superstar, and Roya, a fearless Afghan interpreter, as they navigate their worlds amidst the backdrop of war-torn Kabul.

Washington and Savone expressed their excitement about the project in a joint statement, saying, “We are beyond excited to be joining the producing team of Duke & Roya and to support bringing new work to the stage. The piece is emotionally rich, timely, and manages to be romantic and funny in all the right places.” They emphasized the play’s urgency and intimacy, adding that it captures what it means to live with fear but not in it.

The cast includes Jay Ellis, known for “Top Gun: Maverick,” and Stephanie Nur, recognized for her role in “Lioness.” Olivier Award winner Noma Dumezweni and Dariush Kashani also appear in the production. Understudies for the show include Ariana Afradi, Shirine Babb, René David Ifrah, and Jequrey Slaton.

The 11-week engagement of “Duke & Roya” will officially open on June 24, featuring original music by Ronvé O’Daniel and an exceptional creative team. General management is provided by TT Partners. Advance tickets can be purchased through the theatre’s website.