Some area Girl Scouts visited SUNY Fredonia’s Marvel and Bartlett theaters. Submitted photo

Who hasn’t wanted to go backstage and peek behind the curtain to see what goes into the making of a favorite play?

Twenty Western New York Girl Scouts got to do just that during the recent “Behind the Scenes” workshop at Fredonia State.

Hosted by SUNY Fredonia theater professor Todd Proffitt, the workshop included a tour of Marvel and Bartlett theaters, as well as the set painting and building workshops. Finally, the girls rolled up their sleeves and got to work, designing costumes and lighting for characters in “James and the Giant Peach.”

The girls learned what to consider when designing costumes — how does the costume fit into the set colors, what role does texture play in costume design, and how to consider ease of movement for the actors. Next, the scouts broke out the colored pencils and drew costumes that would fit the play’s characters.

In addition to costuming, lighting is another key to a good performance. Professor Proffitt showed the girls how choosing different colors and lighting direction changes a setting. It can help show the time of day in a performance, as well.

The girls spent some time comparing various set designs online, and finished their learning by sharing their costume sketches.

The next time these Girl Scouts of Western New York see a play, they will be able to look beyond the plot and know a bit about what goes on behind the scenes.