Performing artists find an atmosphere of encouragement here.

Written by: Ashley Petry / Star correspondent Appeared in Indystar.com

"The supportive Fringe Festival community, including artists and audiences, was a big draw for Zan Aufderheide. Although she was raised in Indianapolis, the stand-up comedian had lived a nomadic life for more than a decade. When she visited last year and learned about the opportunities with IndyFringe, she decided it was time to come home.

"I was living in Los Angeles, and there it's hard to get more stage time than seven to 10 minutes a pop," Aufderheide said. "In Indianapolis, I've been able to grow my act to a full hour."

Her one-woman show, "Welcome to Zanland," was written with this year's Fringe Festival in mind. It's an autobiographical "live documentary" about growing up in Indianapolis and dealing with a dysfunctional family.

"The Fringe show is everything I've wanted to create for a long time," she said. "That's really bolstered my career, because now I have a product that can go out to other markets.""

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Sarasota Herald Tribune Article By Abby Weingarten - correspondent Published: Thursday, June 11, 2009

Working the "squeaky-clean" comedy circuit is Zan Aufderheide's M.O., and it has taken the Sarasota performer all the way to the Grand Ole Opry.

In the stand-up world, she keeps it family-friendly, which draws packed houses full of Christian audiences. Her upcoming show at Sarasota Baptist Church is just one in-demand stop on her current countrywide tour.

"Writing and performing helps keep me sane," Aufderheide said. "You don't need to cuss to express yourself. I love doing comedy that can make anybody laugh."

Aufderheide's affair with humor began during a series of classes she attended at McCurdy's Comedy Theatre. Drawing from her background in composition, and her master's degree in theater, she began writing autobiographical material about such topics as being made fun of in school, experiencing heartbreak and coping with the death of a pet. She found putting a lighter twist on the ups and downs of her life to be cathartic, and left her career as a massage therapist to test her chops as a comic.

"I was like, 'This is it. This is what I'm doing with my life,' " Aufderheide said. "I was living the American dream at the time, with the house and the fenced-in yard and the new car, and I just realized I was living someone else's dream. I was bored. I was like, 'This is not me.' "

So Aufderheide created a routine called "This Ain't Prettyville," won a Joy FM radio contest to open for Chonda Pierce, the "Queen of Clean," embarked on a 12-month national showcase, and fulfilled her newfound passion.

"I think storytelling has always been a way for humans to understand ourselves, and to create unity, knowing that we are not alone, that what we go through is very normal," Aufderheide said. "My goal is to do comedy with a message, and to inspire others to follow their dreams. I mean if it can happen to me in little old Sarasota, it can happen to anyone."