For several years, a group of people in Mariposa County has used Valentine’s Day as an date stamp to hold events increasing the awareness of domestic violence. This year, the production is not something borrowed, but an original production called “Under Our Skin.”

“Picture everyone around you naked. Not just without their clothes on, but without their skin on,” says a release from production organizers. “Who is who? Who is rich, who is poor? Who is old, who is young? Aren’t we all pretty much the same?”

That’s the idea behind “Under Our Skin.” It is a multi-media piece directed and conceptualized by Laura Phillips. “We’re going a little uptown on this one,” Connie Stetson said in a recent interview.

“Above all, it tells the truth,” Stetson continued. “The content speaks to women and their experiences in the world. It elevates everybody.”

The model of the production is similar to “The Vagina Monologues,” but with original content. “We use this model because it works,” Stetson explained. “It’s for the enlightenment of everybody.”

Stetson and other supporters of Mountain Crisis Services, which benefits from the production, have had four years of sold-out performances of the monologues and “Love Letters.” They wanted to do something different. “We realized there was more out there,” Stetson explained, “more stories, more experiences, more voices.”

They culled through blogs and books, magazine articles and their own journals and came up with the 90 minutes of story and song.

“I think our community is ready for it,” Stetson said. “We are more open and more willing to stand up for the protection of women and children.” Still, she and her cohorts are nervous about opening night.

“It’s never been done before,” Stetson explained. “We’re all jumping into it scared to death but excited to give the community something original.”

She hopes the message is heard. “This is our take on who we are as women,” Stetson said. “We are speaking to everybody so that we can decide as a community that we can do better.”

The production’s press release goes further. “It’s about all of us and how we have experienced being, not just female, although that is an important component, but human, in this terrifying, brutal and beautiful world.”

The production will take place in the Bodie Room of the Yosemite Bug Hostel on Friday, Feb. 12 and Saturday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. It is a fund raising event for MCS, and tax-deductible donations of $25 per person are the ticket price.

Tickets are available at the Yosemite Bug at 966-6666 or at MCS at 742-5865.

There will be a chocolate reception following the production.