Host your own post-show discussion with friends or reflect on the play yourself with our list of discussion questions. Spoilers ahead, so be sure to save these for after you see a performance.

1. The Royale is a fictional story based on the career of Jack Johnson, the first Black boxer to hold the heavyweight title. Did you know anything about Jack Johnson before watching this play? If you didn’t, why don’t you think his story is more well known? 
2. The current heavyweight champion, Bixby, only agrees to fight Jay in exchange for 90% of the purse, win or lose. Max, Jay’s promoter, tells him it’s a terrible deal and the sports world won’t take him seriously if he accepts the lopsided terms. Jay agrees anyway. Why do you think Jay accepts the terms? Was it the right decision? 
3. Boxing in The Royale is told through expressive choreography, rhythmic verbalizations, and a live score consisting of stomps and claps—instead of traditional fight choreography. Playwright Marco Ramirez explained this choice by saying “I wanted to remove the physical impact of the sport and focus on its emotional impact.” What was your experience watching these violent encounters told without any punches landing? 
4. Jay repeatedly dodges questions about his personal background, who his family is and where they’re from, not just to the public but also to Fish. Why do you think he is so insistent on keeping his background private? 
5. During a press conference, Jay says “I think you take some people and you tell ‘em there’s the slightest chance that the toughest man in the world don’t look like Champ Bixby? That’s tellin’ ‘em the sky is red, forwards is backwards, and Santa Claus isn’t real.” Can you think of any other similar realizations you’ve seen people have a very hard time accepting? Why do you think that is? 
6. Wyton tells Jay about having fought in a royale (also known as a battle royal). These free-for-all fights with no rules exploited mostly Black men and boys for entertainment. Why do you think the play is titled after these disreputable contests? 
7. During the final fight for the championship title, Nina appears in the ring instead of Bixby. Why do you think Jay was seeing her instead of his opponent? What impact did seeing her in the ring have on you while watching the final scene? 
8. Jay insists that he’s striving for this title to change things and for Black people to have a chance at being considered the best, but Nina fears what the consequences of winning the fight will be for regular people. Was Jay right to pursue this goal despite the real consequences? What are the costs of making change happen even today?