Welcome to Big & Salty, a podcast of stories by me, Chris Wells, told before a live audience. Many of the stories I’ll be sharing were written for The Secret City, a secular church of art I founded in New York City in 2007. The first season will be 12 episodes with a new episode every two weeks. Graphic: Cathy James and Anni Poppen

School just got out for the summer. I'm a gay teenager growing up in the Mojave desert when two friends invite me to try out for the musical over at the Palmdale Cultural Center.

What song will I sing? Will I be asked to dance? And what's up with all the strange characters attracted to community theater?

Recorded before a live audience at Morton Memorial Library in Rhinecliff, New York

Produced by Chris Wells and Matty Rosenberg @ radiofreerhinecliff.org Graphics by Cathy James and Anni Poppen Music by Fred Cassidy