Caleb Donahoe has been performing since the age of six, but his first time on the Ball State stage will be as Bailiff and Saint Matthew in the "Last Days of Judas Iscariot."
As a freshman in the musical theatre program, he said he has found preparing for this play difficult but also rewarding.
"It's been really hard, but it's also been very informative and educational," Donahoe said. "I've learned just as much in rehearsal as in the classroom."
Donahoe sang gospel with his parents until he was nine, and then he auditioned and played the Artful Dodger in "Oliver! The Musical." Performing until he was in middle school, Donahoe took a break from theater during high school.
"I only did one show a year, but the passion was still there," he said. "I never knew I wanted to pursue it professionally. [Theater] has been an important factor in shaping who I am today."
Talley Gale, a sophomore in acting who plays Cunningham, manages to juggle multiple activities along with the rehearsals for "Judas."
"I take 18 credit hours, TA a class, work, participate in a couple clubs and do this show," Gale said. "From 8 a.m. to 1 or 2 a.m., I go with no breaks in between."
She sometimes has an hour or two to regroup herself and finish schoolwork. As busy as Gale may be, she is managing her life as an actor.
"This is what it is like to work as an actor," she said. "There is no downtime. I'm really tired, but I love it at the same time."
Bradford Reilly, a junior in acting, said playing three different characters in "Judas" (two saints and Sigmund Freud) is the biggest challenge for him.
Reilly walks around and paces a lot to get into character, but there is a method he prefers best.
"The best way to get into character is to empty yourself," he said. "It is much more effective to be available to understand where the characters are in their physical life."
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Matthew Glasner, a senior majoring in musical theatre, is enjoying the opportunity to play the bad guy, Satan.
"I love everything about [Satan] and what he stands for," Glasner said.
As an actor, Glasner threw away any previous judgments he had about Satan.
"Judas" will be Glasner's last show at Ball State because of his senior status. He said he could not have asked for a better show.
"It's the cherry on top in my theater education," he said. "I am anxious to move on and practice what I've been training for the last four years."
Cole O'Beirne, a senior acting major, said he feels as though he has been preparing for his role as Judas Iscariot for the last four years.
"Our acting teacher brought [the script] to class," O'Beirne said. "I was assigned to do the Judas scene with Jesus, and it had a great affect on me. It was personal. I've known about the show for four years, and I've been indirectly preparing."
O'Beirne said he connected to his character in profound, human ways.
"Judas is a very conflicted person who doesn't want to realize that he has control over his destiny," he said. "There was a time when a part of me wanted to blame others, but I realized that I am to blame for my problems."
As a senior, O'Beirne said he is looking forward to the professional workplace. He already auditioned for a few professional jobs, including the "Book of Mormon" national tour. Judas is the last character he will play at Ball State.
"If you can't produce professional work as an amateur actor, you're not going to produce," he said. "I want Judas to seem like the best Judas anyone has ever played."
O'Beirne said he could not have come all this way without the help of his instructors.
"I owe so many people gratitude for what they've done to me," he said "I really hope this show justifies that, and shows my teachers how far I've come."
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