VIDEO: IT'S ONLY A PLAY's Martin Short Reveals He Was 'Hesitant' to Take on Lead Role

Martin Short stopped by this morning's TODAY to talk about taking over the lead role in the hit Broadway comedy IT'S ONLY A PLAY.

The actor revealed that he almost didn't accept the offer to take over the part from Tony winner Nathan Lane. "I was hesitant that there was enough time. I only had 10 days in December to rehearse it," Short explained, but went on to reveal that it was late director Mike Nichols who insisted he take on the role. Check out the appearance below!

Broadway's record-breaking, star-studded smash hit comedy It's Only a Play by 4-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally, recently welcomed Martin Short, two-time Tony Award winnerKatie Finneran and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning "30 Rock" alum Maulik Pancholy - in his Broadway debut.

In It's Only A Play, it's opening night of Peter Austin's (Matthew Broderick) new play as he anxiously awaits to see if his show is a hit. With his career on the line, he shares his big First Night with his best friend, a television star (Nathan Lane), his fledgling producer (Megan Mullally), his erratic leading lady (Stockard Channing), his wunderkind director (Rupert Grint), an infamous drama critic (F. Murray Abraham), and a fresh-off-the-bus coat check attendant (Micah Stock) on his first night in Manhattan. It's alternately raucous, ridiculous and tender - and proves that sometimes the biggest laughs happen offstage.

The design team for It's Only A Play includes scenic design by Tony® winner Scott Pask, costume design by Academy Award® and Tony® winnerAnn Roth, lighting design by Philip Rosenberg, and sound design by Fitz Patton.