Shakespeare In The Park's 'As You Like It' Scored By Steve Martin, Banjoist (And Comedian) (VIDEO)

The Public Theater's 50th Anniversary of Shakespeare in the Park will feature "As You Like It," with music composed by none other than comedic genius Steve Martin.

Though he won a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album in 2009 and was named the International Bluegrass Music Association's Entertainer of the Year in 2011, Martin is still better known for his work on and behind the silver screen. This time around, he's bringing his bluegrass talent to the stage, composing an original score for "As You Like It" that'll be played by a live band during the performance. This Southern-bred music won't be out of place in Shakespeare, though. Director Daniel Sullivan is setting the play in the rural American South in 1840.

The play will star Lily Rabe, Macintyre Dixon, Renee Elise Goldsberry and Omar Metwally and run in conjunction with the theater's musical "Into the Woods."

Watch below for a video of Steve Martin's crazy banjo skills:

Comments

[BlackYowe]

12:42 AM on 03/13/2012

Awesome, dude!

[kelyking]

11:49 AM on 03/12/2012

I'm a fan of Steve Martin, but wouldn't it be better and possibly truer to the vision if a lesser known, struggling composer looking for a break would have been considered or even hired? I don't know, someone new and maybe, what Joe Papp would have appreciated?

[Shakesbird]

09:17 PM on 03/11/2012

I can digeth it.

[AngelDevil69]

04:43 PM on 03/10/2012

Steve Martin for President!

[Catemptress]

01:54 PM on 03/10/2012

I thought that was SM in the photo on the front page labeled
as "this guy". Wow. Such a creative dude inspires only the
best of wishes for success in his latest venture.

[Lindsgrace33]

11:26 AM on 03/09/2012

I liked seeing Steve rock out on the banjo. He is awesome. :)

[MahatmaCoat]

07:30 AM on 03/09/2012

Can the cognoscenti get over Steve Martin: Banjo Player already? Would anyone have any interest if it wasn't COMEDIAN Steve Martin playing? It's mostly boring music. Stop trying to shove this down our throats!

[jennielake]

05:01 PM on 03/10/2012

humm...

how ironic

... you want others to "Stop trying to shove this down our throats!"

So... what you are saying is - you dont want Their Beliefs shoved down our throat...

... instead you want Your Beliefs shoved down our throat

- got it

from where I sit - you are no different that what you blame others for doing

[kenhamlett]

04:48 AM on 03/09/2012

Mr. Martin is one of my heroes. He does so many things so well, yet he retains a sense of humor about himself in spite of it. He will do a terrific job.

[realitytrumpsbull]

02:28 AM on 03/09/2012

"...and I'm a ramblin', oh, I'm a ramblin' man....O Romeo, wherefore art-thou...Romeo..."

[Ducktaper]

02:25 AM on 03/09/2012

Brilliant! Great to see Bela as well.

Seriously thought Martin hasn't aged. He hit 40 when he was about 23 and stayed there.

[MahatmaCoat]

07:31 AM on 03/09/2012

Other than the hearing aids and his hair going from premature white to ghostly white you mean.

[Doctor Jones]

02:23 AM on 03/09/2012

Huff Po should have linked to this video... it's way newer and better:http://www.rollingstone.com/videos/new-and-hot/steve-martin-me-and-paul-revere-20120221

[Catemptress]

01:59 PM on 03/10/2012

Thanks, DJ, with my f, f. (It is better than the one above.)

[Gronkie]

10:23 PM on 03/08/2012

Nice video of Steve's wonderful playing, including an astonishing solo by Bela Fleck, who is probably the best banjo player on the planet. I got to know Bela back in the 90s when I worked for his record company and saw him and the Flecktones live about 20 times. At the time, they were hands down the best live act on the road. They burned the house to the ground every single night. I've never seen anything like it before or since. If you want to get your money's worth from a live show, go see Bela Fleck the next time he's in town. You'll never forget it. He's a really nice guy, too, and will probably hang around to talk to anyone who wants to chat after the show.

[g9]

02:37 AM on 03/09/2012

Never saw Bela.Wanted to for years now....Have met Martin. (brilliant & a great expierence) ...Would love to see them together

[Catemptress]

02:04 PM on 03/10/2012

Thank you so much for your great comment and sharing
about Bela Fleck. Gonna check him on YT. Here's my
fan, fave of appreciation.

[mjr91]

04:53 PM on 03/08/2012

I'm pleased to hear this. Despite the fabulous work he does as a musician, Martin's long history as a talented comic actor makes many people not realize that he truly is a seriously gifted musical performer and composer.