Michael Rubke, senior in performing arts, reads the script over and over and tries to learn about the play first to understand and prepare for a character.

Rubke, an ISU Theatre actor with a love of the stage, said a performer can’t read a play enough — because you have to know everything about that character and the characters you interact with.

“You have to know a play inside and out,” Rubke said. “Then you can figure out what about the character isn’t written and the stuff you have to make up. It involves a lot of thinking.”

Rubke will play the role of Orgon in the November production of “Tartuffe” at Fisher Theater. The character, Rubke said, is the show’s protagonist and the patriarch of his family. Orgon gets suckered in by a conman named Tartuffe whom everyone else sees right through. Throughout the play, they try to convince Orgon he is a hypocrite.

“It’s a comedy,” Rubke said. “It’s really, really funny.”

Rubke has performed in quite a few shows in his life, but three of these are most memorable to him — “Mud,” “Three Sisters” and “Waiting For Godot” — two of which were ISU productions.

Besides his upcoming role in “Tartuffe,” Rubke was recently hired at the Story County Children’s Theater. He will be directing their production of “Peter Pan” for February of 2009.

After college, Rubke wants to act professionally but wants to stick close to the stage. He admits he would definitely take part in a movie if someone offered, but his love remains for the stage and the creativity it brings.

“I like the stage the best,” Rubke said. “It’s just more thrilling.”

The most challenging aspect of acting, Rubke said, is trying to be as honest as possible when performing your character.

“I think no matter what you’re doing, as long as your character is being as honest as possible, I think people will buy it even if the play has ridiculous circumstances,” Rubke said.

Rubke gets his inspiration for life and acting from the playwright and artist Edward Albee. Everything Albee writes, including his subject matter, is everything Rubke likes about theater.

“It’s direct, and it’s not pretty. Most of the characters are pretty ugly and funny at what they say and what they do,” Rubke said. “It’s based on normal people with extreme circumstances. I just think that everything he writes is all that.”

Rubke plans on being near the stage the rest of his life and hopes to pass his positive work ethic on toward his fellow students and future actors. One piece of advice Rubke offered for new and future actors is to be humble — the theater, no matter what the production, is a lot bigger that you.