If you enjoyed last year's Salkehatchie Stew production, Dig Deeper, then get your taste buds ready for a second helping of Stew this spring.
The public will get its first taste of the new batch of Salk Stew next week. Salkehatchie Stew will present a public read-through of the new 2010 play script, Weathering The Storm, at the B&G Civic Center in Allendale at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8. At the read-through, the audience will have an opportunity to comment and offer suggestions on the script.
If you were entertained by last year's unique blend of stories, you will certainly love Weathering The Storm, a totally original, completely new version of Stew. And this play promises to offer even more local flavor: not only does it include more local stories, it is written by local folks.
Three local writers have spent months reading your stories and- creating Weathering The Storm: Linda Lyly of Allendale County, Chrissy Holiday of Barnwell County, and Michael M. DeWitt, Jr. of Hampton County. This year's play is truly a well-blended stew of local flavor, to be presented in our three counties this spring and in Colleton and Barnwell counties this fall.
The play, based on stories gathered from all over the region, tells how folks deal with hard times, setbacks, and interesting relatives and friends. As advertised, you will laugh, you will cry, you will sing along, and you might even think about how life has changed - or not changed - in the Salkehatchie Region.
If you want to be a part of this unique community performance, Salk Stew is seeking actors of all ages, from 2 to 102, as well as anybody interested in helping with music, sets, lights, sound, props, costumes, publicity, fundraising, child care, food, and more. There is something for everyone!
Auditions will be held at the Palmetto Theater/Stanley Cultural Arts Center on Feb. 9 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and at the Estill District Auditorium on Feb. 11 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Production dates are April 16-18 in Allendale at the B&G Civic Center, April 23-25 at the Dane Theater in Denmark, April 30 & May 1 in Hampton at the Palmetto Theater, and May 2 in Estill at the old high school auditorium. The play will be performed on Friday evenings at 7:30 and on Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 3-12, with group discounts available.
For tickets or for additional information, please visit http://www.salkehatchiestew.com or call or email Frances Chavous at the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie at 803.584.3446 ext. 242 or fchavous@mailbox.sc.edu.

More Salk Stew stories needed for 2011
With Weathering The Storm soon to hit local stages, we are already making plans for next year. Now is the time to share your stories. We all looking for stories of all kinds, from tall tales, to the humorous, even your sad experiences. We need local stories from each county, and we particularly need African-American stories, stories from our few remaining World War II veterans, stories about the great outdoors, and just about any family story you would like to see become a part of our region's recorded history.
For future generations, stories will be recorded on audio tapes, in written transcripts, and then presented on the stage.
To set up an interview either contact Chavous, one of our writers, or call me at (803) 943-4645, or email to michael.dewitt@morris.com.
Enjoy your Stew!