Also approaching the show with the transforming ardor of motherhood is Christiane Noll, one of its stars. She plays the character of Mother, whose life is transformed when she takes a young African-American woman, Sarah, and her baby into her home.

Noll, who grew up in Leonia, and attended Leonia High School before going on to Carnegie-Mellon University, gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Rianna, almost nine months ago.

"You always bring elements of your own personality, your own life, to your roles," she said during a pre-matinee restaurant lunch with Dodge. "And becoming a mother completely changed how I felt. Your perception of everything changes; you become less selfish. Your career isn't your life anymore; you have one foot on the other side of the door."

You don't, of course, have to be something to play it, and actors have effectively portrayed parents or presidents or serial killers without real-life experience.

But motherhood is inextricably linked to this production.

Noll, who lives in Maplewood, auditioned for "Ragtime," which premiered last spring at the Kennedy Center in Washington, when she was eight months pregnant.

"I was delusional," she explained.

Dodge said Noll — who made her Broadway debut in 1997, playing the female lead in "Jekyll & Hyde" — got the part because, in addition to her singing and acting talents, she was funny.

"No other actress who auditioned had that sense of humor," said Dodge. "I wanted to bring a new humor, some levity and light moments to the part."

Noll started rehearsing when Rianna was 6 weeks old, and she credits her husband, actor Jamie LaVerdiere, with enabling her to get through the usual, sleep-deprived twilight zone that envelops new parents.

"He's just been great in taking care of her," she said. "I couldn't do this without him."

Recorded at the NYC press introduction to the cast of Ragtime

She’s not only playing mother to Little Coalhouse Walker, Jr. in the about-to-open Broadway production of Ragtime, Christiane Noll is also playing mother to her young toddler. How will she juggle both these motherhoods on the road? Has becoming a mother changed her performance as Mother since the Kennedy Center production?

“I have an incredible support system. It takes a village, especially when I am doing all of this. I’m always running around holding on to the doll. I won’t put it down..”

Playbill.com - By Kenneth Jones

The producers of the Broadway revival of Ragtime announced a way to see the show, which begins performances Oct. 23, for a song: a lottery ticket program.

Two hours prior to each performance of Ragtime, patrons will be invited to enter a lottery drawing at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street) for a limited number of $26.50 lottery tickets to that day's performance. Names will be drawn at random 90 minutes prior to curtain. There will be a limit of two tickets per person and tickets may be purchased using cash only. Winners must be present with valid identification at the time of the drawing to purchase their tickets.

Christiane Noll, Robert Petkoff and Quentin Earl Darrington star as the leaders of three tribes that collide in 1906 New York City.

Ragtime, based on the E.L. Doctorow novel, has a 1998 Tony Award-winning book by Terrence McNally and Tony-winning score by Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) and Stephen Flaherty (music).

The scenically lean, actor-driven production seen at the Kennedy Center was critically acclaimed. The Broadway cast is a mix of holdovers (including Noll as the privileged white matron known as Mother, and Darrington as African-American musician Coalhouse Walker Jr.) and newcomers (including Petkoff, as Jewish patriarch Tateh).

Director-choreographer Marcia Milgrom Dodge repeats her duties for the Broadway transfer. She stripped away major scenic possibilities to focus on script and score and actor, and got good reviews for her work.

Ragtime ticket prices are $46.50, $86.50 and $126.50 (including $1.50 facility fee) and are available by calling Ticketmaster at (212) 307-4100 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.

Ragtime is playing at Neil simon Threatre 250 w 52nd St in NYC on the following preview schedule from Oct. 23-Nov. 14: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 PM, Sunday at 7:30 PM, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinee at 2 PM. Dark Mon.

From opening night Nov. 15 onward: Tuesday evening at 7 PM, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 PM, Wednesday and Saturday matinee at 2 PM, Sunday matinee at 3 PM. Dark Monday.

For more information visit www.ragtimebroadway.com.

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