VIDEO: MACBETH's Ethan Hawke Compares Shakespeare to Rap Music on 'Today'

Actor Ethan Hawke, currently starring on Broadway in Macbeth, stopped by the fourth hour of NBC's TODAY to talk with hosts Kathie Lee and Hoda about the production.

"The big mistake is, people think they're suppose to understand every word," the actor said of a Shakespearean play. "If you listen to a rap song, you don't sit there and try to break down every word, you let the language just kind of flow. Some of it you get, some of it you don't, but you just enjoy the playful use of language."

Check out the appearance below!

About Macbeth:

Lincoln Center Theater, under the direction of Producing Artistic Director André Bishop, presentsBianca Amato, Shirine Babb, John Patrick Doherty, Austin Durant, Richard Easton,Francesca Faridany, Stephanie Fieger, Malcolm Gets, John Glover, Ben Horner, Ruy Iskandar, Brian d'Arcy James, Byron Jennings, Aaron Krohn, Jeremiah Maestas, Christopher McHale,Jonny Orsini,Sam Poon, Triney Sandoval, Nathan Stark, Daniel Sunjata, Patrick Vaill, Tyler Lansing Weaks, Derek Wilson, Ethan Hawke and Anne-Marie Duff in Shakespeare's Macbeth, directed by Jack O'Brien.

The production, which features a cast of 27, is currently in previews and will open on Thursday, November 21 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street). BroadwayWorld brings you highlights of the cast in action below!

In this new production of what is widely considered to be one of Shakespeare's darkest and most powerful tragedies, Ethan Hawke plays Macbeth opposite Anne-Marie Duff as Lady Macbeth, Bianca Amato as Lady Macduff, Richard Easton as Duncan, Brian d'Arcy James as Banquo, Jonny Orsini as Malcolm,Daniel Sunjata as Macduff, Malcolm Gets, John Glover and Byron Jennings as the Three Witches, together withShirine Babb, John Patrick Doherty, Austin Durant, Francesca Faridany,Stephanie Fieger, Ben Horner, Ruy Iskandar,Aaron Krohn, Jeremiah Maestas, Christopher McHale,Sam Poon, Triney Sandoval, Nathan Stark, Patrick Vaill, Tyler Lansing Weaks and Derek Wilson in other roles.