Sarah Chalke to Join Cast of Off-Broadway's Modern Orthodox in April

By Robert Simonson
10 Mar 2005

Sarah Chalke of TV's "Scrubs" and Hunter Foster of Urinetown fame will replace Gretchen Egolf and J. Anthony Crane in the cast of Daniel Goldfarb's Off-Broadway comedy Modern Orthodox on April 12, Playbill.com has learned.

Chalke will play the role originated by Molly Ringwald and Foster will take on the part created by Craig Bierko. The production began previews Nov. 11, 2004, at Dodger Stages at Worldwide Plaza. Jenn Harris and Jason Biggs were also in the original cast of the play, which concerns the impact a "lovable schmuck" Hershel Klein has on a young Jewish couple of lapsed faith.

Harris is still will the cast. As previously reported, Fiddler on the Roof's John Cariani will assume the Biggs role on March 15.

Clarke plays Dr. Elliot Reid on the TV sitcom "Scrubs." She first came to attention when who took over the role Becky Conner on "Roseanne" in 1993, after original Becky Alicia Goranson left the show to attend college.

Foster has spent his post-Urinetown time playing the leads in Little Shop of Horrors and The Producers on Broadway. He is currently in the company of Mr. Roberts at the Kennedy Center. He plays Pulver in the revival.

Playwright Goldfarb has also written Adam Baum and the Jew Movie, which won the 2000 NY Newsday Oppenheimer Award. Goldfarb's Sarah, Sarah was presented at the Manhattan Theatre Club this past spring. Modern Orthodox has been seen at Long Wharf Theatre, where it had its world premiere.