It has been three years since the last collaboration between the ISU departments of theatre, music and dance. They’re ready to do it again.

The three academic programs will join together to perform the comic opera “Ruddigore” by Gilbert and Sullivan, which opens this weekend.

“[Ruddigore] is a lot of fun,” says Jane Cox, professor of music and the play’s director.

“It is light and is meant to make the audience feel happy at the end.”

Students from the music, theatre and dance departments collaborate every three years to put on a show.

It has been seven years since a Gilbert and Sullivan production has been done at Iowa State.

“It was time for another [Gilbert and Sullivan] collaboration,” Cox says. “We decided to do “Ruddigore” because it isn’t done a lot.”

The melodrama takes place in a village in England. Every man in town is in love with Rose Maybud, including Robin Oakapple.

Robin is the accursed Baronet of Ruddigore, but he hides it so he can try to win Rose’s love.

He must commit one major crime a day for the rest of his life, or die in agony. Robin faces the dilemma of following the curse or following his heart and winning Rose’s heart.

“[Committing a crime] is hard for Robin,” says Joey Wilgenbusch, who plays Robin. “He is trying to be bad, but can’t.”

Robin is a well-mannered, kind and modest man, says Wilgenbusch, junior in music education. The character is successful in his endeavors, but all he wants is to be with Rose.

Rose is a sweet young heroine. She is very proper, always carrying an etiquette book with her, making sure everyone is doing things the ‘proper’ way, Wilgenbusch says.

Wilgenbusch says he auditioned for the part because he believed it would be a good opportunity to sing and sharpen his acting skills.

He says “Ruddigore” will attract audiences because of its comedic appeal.

“[It] has a lot of obvious humorous things everyone will catch, but a lot of inside jokes between Gilbert and Sullivan,” Wilgenbusch says.

“There are subtle things some people, but not all, will understand.”

Hayden Muhl, who plays a sailor named Richard, agrees.

“People will enjoy it because it’s humorous,” says Muhl, senior in computer engineering. “It makes fun of melodrama.”

Muhl’s character is a rough, friendly sailor. Richard always is nice and smiling, convincing the other characters, but he is really only looking out for himself.

The collaboration is a unique experience for students to participate in, Cox says. Every student in the cast dances, sings and acts in the show.

“The cast and crew have worked so hard,” Cox says. “I am amazed on how dedicated they all were.”

Cox says doing a collaboration is a lot harder than it looks, and performing a play that isn’t performed as often as other plays was also a challenge.

“‘Ruddigore’ is not as familiar to audiences, but there are always people that like the unfamiliar,” Cox says.

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What: “Ruddigore”

Where: Fisher Theater

When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7, 8, 14, 15; 2 p.m. Nov. 9 and 16

Cost: $9.50 students, $15 public