Stratton Players announces auditions for a staged reading of “Fast Forward Fairytales” by Sally Cragin and Jeff Van Amburgh on Wednesday, July 31, 6:30 to 8 pm at the Leominster Public Library. Adults, teens, and elementary age children welcome to participate. The staged reading – actors will be on-book – will be presented at Leominster Library, Thursday, Sept. 12, 7 pm. Rehearsals will be Wednesdays, August 14, 28, September 4 with a “dress rehearsal” September 11 at the Library.

Fast Forward Fairytales asks the question: What happened after "Happily Ever After"? In this fast moving series of vignettes, the tortoise and the hare are still racing (despite aches and pains from their accumulated years), Goldilocks is working out her guilt about the home invasion of the Three Bears and seeks to help them find a new abode; Jack and Jill are still falling down that hill, but the cranial injuries are slowing them down, and Mary still has her little lamb, although now he's a great big sheep named Ed who is not happy when she goes on a blind date. Vignettes range from 5 to 12 minutes. A staged reading gives the actors, audience, and playwrights the chance to hear work aloud. Performance to be followed by a brief discussion.