PEYSER: This is your Broadway debut. Why put yourself out there now?

BRACCO: I’m always looking for things to challenge me, and since I sing in Billy Joel’s key, my musical career is out. I feel like it’s getting a Ph.D. in acting. It’s something I’ve really never done before.

It’s one thing to challenge yourself. It’s another to do a play with a nude scene.

The lighting is the trick in anything, don’t you know that?

So you don’t prepare? No crash diets?

No crash diets. I am what I am. Anyway, the nude scene is quick. I hope people don’t blink.

You “Sopranos” stars could almost start your own acting troupe.

Isn’t that cute? We can only do it until February. That’s when we go back to “The Sopranis.”

Sopranis? Is that some Italian plural thing?

That’s our term of endearment for “Sopranos.”

Do you all go see each other perform?

I’ve seen Edie. Thought she was terrific.

She’s nude too!

Very.

I imagine you had an easy time scoring tickets to the Pacino play, “Arturo Ui.”

I saw my boys, John Ventimiglia and Dominic Chianese. I actually had two extra tickets that John gave me. I couldn’t get rid of them. I called up 25 people I knew. So we gave them to somebody outside.

Please don’t tell me Uncle Junior is naked.

No, but he’s a gorgeous-looking man. Most men should be like Dominic.

Really?

Are you kidding? The guy’s a lady-killer. He’s been married four or five times.

Speaking of lady-killers, you’re pals with Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

I’ve known him for a couple of years. We ended up consistently sitting next to each other at dinners. Every time I’d see him he’d say, “Oh, it’s you again.” That was before he was mayor. When he decided to run, I would say, “What are you going to do about this, and what are you going to do about that?” He would say, “Calm down.” I would say, “Look, I’m a concerned citizen and I have opinions,” and he was like, “Really. I didn’t notice that, Lorraine.”

You should run for office.

I couldn’t. I’m too tired. But I do have strong opinions. I think that’s why Mike likes me.

Why are you so tired? Your Dr. Melfi doesn’t have much to do on “The Sopranos” lately.

It’s not a big Melfi season. I hear next year they’re making it up. I’ve been warned.

Do fans confuse you with her?

Guys come up and say, “I need some help.” They’re just trying to pick me up.

What do you tell them?

I say I’m way too busy. And I tell them to call Dr. Phil.