For some people in this region, the bitter cold temperatures several weeks ago harkened them back to 1973.

The winter of 1973 was notable because of a storm from Feb. 8 to Feb. 11 that set Lowcountry records that still stand today.

More than 18 inches of snow fell on six Lowcountry counties. The town of Rimini in Clarendon County had a record-setting 24 inches dumped on it, according to S.C. Department of Natural Resources data.

For Salkehatchie Stew, that 1973 winter storm becomes the "spine" story or main tale around which other yarns are knitted for its regional production, "Weathering the Storm."

"The base story is how people weather the storms of their lives," said Frances Chavous, the Salkehatchie Stew project director.

The storm caused about 600 people in Allendale to hunker down in the National Guard armory, opened as an emergency shelter. Others took shelter with neighbors who could better handle the cold, she said.

"People in Jeeps took doctors out to houses," Chavous said.

Salkehatchie Stew is an effort to promote the artistic uniqueness of the five-county region of Barnwell, Bamberg, Allendale, Hampton and Colleton counties through visual arts, music, storytelling and theatrical productions.

A reading of the script for "Weathering the Storm" will occur at the B&G Civic Center in Allendale at 6 p.m., Feb. 8, Chavous said.

An audition to fill acting parts will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Feb. 10 at the Circle Theatre in Barnwell.

The spine story involves an African-American student trapped by the weather at the house of his teacher, a white woman. That student would be called an "at-risk" child now, teetering between making good and bad decisions, Chavous said.

The agitation caused by integration still vibrated in 1973 and adds another twist to this core plot, she said.

"The major character is based on teachers who were good at mentoring to people. The major character is a composite of these teachers," Chavous said. "The old woman teaches the kid how to deal with things and he helped her through this (storm)."

Besides the spine story, there are other sideline stories drawn from this area that touch on World War II, the Great Depression and integration, she said.

"We even have a Gulf War story," Chavous said.

"Weathering the Storm" will be shown in Allendale April 16-18 in the B&G Civic Center; in the Dane Theater in Denmark April 23-25; in the Palmetto Theater in Hampton April 30 and May 1, and one showing May 2 in Estill at the Estill school district auditorium.

Chavous isn't sure how many people she will need for the production since she is trying to cast two people for each character and wants to cast local people from each county, especially when it plays in their respective county, she said.

The production will hit three counties and four towns over three weekends, Chavous said.

"The reason we are only doing three weekends is because that's all we can ask the actors to take out of their lives," she said. "You don't have to go to every rehearsal, only the scenes you are cast in."

Chavous is also looking for volunteers as stagehands, carpenters and people to help with publicity, props, lighting and sound.

Those interested in acting but cannot make the Barnwell audition can call Chavous for alternate auditions. Chavous can be reached at (803) 584-3446, extension 242 or by e-mail at fchavous@mailbox.