Move Over Chita! Oprah Winfrey Wants to Star in Tony Kushner's New Version of THE VISIT on Broadway

According to the New York Post, Chita Rivera wasn't the only star vying to bring The Visit to Broadway this season. Oprah Winfrey has reportedly been waiting for Tony Kushner to finish a new translation of Friedrich Dürrenmatt's satirical 1956 play.

But Winfrey's starring vehicle has been derailed by John Kander, Fred Ebb and Terrence McNally's new musical version of the story, set to debut on Broadway this spring, featuring Rivera and Roger Rees.

The talk show host had hoped to appear in The Visit next season. Time will tell whether Broadway -- and audiences -- can handle two iterations of The Visit so close together.

In THE VISIT, Claire Zachannassian, the world's wealthiest woman, returns home to Anton, who captured her heart then shattered her dreams, and what she does next shocks the town. This tale of romance, seduction and betrayal proves that revenge is the best revenge.

Winfrey last produced The Color Purple on Broadway in 2005. The production was nominated for a 2006 Tony Award for Best Musical. Before creating her own TV channel (OWN), Winfrey hosted The Oprah Winfrey Show from 1986 to 2011. She recently appeared on the big screen in the MLK biopic Selma, as well as Lee Daniels' The Butler.

A prolific Pulitzer Prize- and Tony-winning playwright, screenwriter and director, Kushner penned the script for the 2012 Oscar-nominated film Lincoln. His plays include Angels in America, Caroline, or Change, Short Talks on the Universe, Don Juan de Marco, Brundibar, The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures, A Bright Room Called Day, Love's Fire, L'Illusion, Slavs! and Homebody/Kabul.

Both Winfrey and Kushner were awarded the 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom.