Together with Scott Sanders, Winfrey has been looking for a role that will fit her and has found one that excites them.
- Feb 7, 2014
AceShowbiz - Oprah Winfrey will take her first stage role on Broadway in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Night, Mother". The casting news came from Winfrey's longtime associate Scott Sanders who will be among the producers.
Winfrey has been lauded by critics for her performance in "Lee Daniels' The Butler", but the talk show host has dreams of performing live on stage. "Oprah has had a longstanding desire to act on Broadway," Sanders told the New York Times.
Daniels continued, "She understands how unique and challenging performing live on stage will be as an actress. She and I have been looking at a number of plays and roles in order to find material and a character that truly resonate with her. We've recently read something that we're both excited about but are not yet ready to officially announce the specifics."
Winfrey and Sanders have come a long way. They worked together in producing the original "The Color Purple" production on Broadway in 2005 and are currently working on a Broadway revival of "Color Purple". Meanwhile, "Night, Mother" scribe Marsha Norman worked with the duo on the book of "Color Purple".
Winfrey is believed to have read the part in "Night, Mother" last year at Sanders' apartment together with "Private Practice" star Audra McDonald. Winfrey is expected to play a mother desperate to save her depressed daughter (McDonald) from committing suicide. Broadway veteran George C. Wolfe is expected to direct.
