ROCKPORT — Since 2000, professional photographer Marti Stone of Rockport has found herself hanging around backstage at Strom Auditorium, watching students and teachers, parents and volunteers transform materials and people into sets and characters.

She has watched budding actors and actresses fuss with makeup, hair and lines, and marveled as seamstresses create extravagant and realistic costumes year after year. And then there are the sets. Castles, junk yards, living rooms and forests are all created from myriad bits and pieces of used and reused goods, and the occasional gem pulled from a pile of flotsam and jetsum.

Stone has started a blog about her recent visits backstage while this year’s students prepare their performance of Shrek, the Musical.

Take a peek at what the costumes look like, and who is playing what character. There’s even a little secret or two, and some answers to, “How do they do that?”

Marti Stone’s blog posts:

• A TREK THROUGH SHREK TECH

• A BACKSTAGE FAIRY TALE: SHREK PART 2

Related story:

• Camden Hills' production of 'Shrek, the Musical' opens Nov. 8