NYC insiders are dishing that Fantasia Barrino may be on her way to the bright lights of Midtown Manhattan. The former American Idol is reportedly joining the cast of Oprah Winfrey’s Tony Award-winning The Color Purple.

She’ll star as Miss Celie, the abused young woman played by Whoopi Goldberg in Steven Spielberg’s big-screen adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel.

The one-time million dollar a week production is now dragging in roughly $500,000 a week.

“This is so great for her,” one source snitching. “This is going to be so big. Oprah is making a big deal out of it.”

F.B’s reps couldn’t be reached for comment.