Sara Schaefer’s debut stand up show ‘Little White Box’ will be at the Pleasance Courtyard – That for the month of August.

1. Tell us about your Fringe show​

Little White Box is a collection of stories and thoughts about what it’s like to be an American in the current political climate and the struggle to live what you believe in an increasingly complex world.

I talk about my night terrors, what it was like to grow up as an evangelical Christian in the Bible Belt, my obsession with crafting, and the struggle to find meaning in a world of horrible cliches. And there’s one poop joke.

2. How does it feel to be playing the Fringe for the first time?

I’ve been wanting to do the Fringe for a few years now, and this year it all came together and I’m so excited. I’ve never been to the UK before, even though it’s been my number one place to visit since I was a teen. It just never worked out until now. I’m a little nervous in that respect, though, because I’ve never performed for a UK audience.

3.If you were not a performer what would you be doing?

If I wasn’t a comedian, I like to think I’d be living out in the country farming the land and creating soft goods to sell at the local market. But in reality, I’d probably be some kind of boring business woman. When I first started comedy, my day job was at a high-powered law firm in New York City calculating damages for securities fraud cases.

4. How do you combat pre-gig nerves?

I usually focus on the jokes and practice a few tricky parts out loud over and over, pacing like a lunatic. Sometimes I do squats if I’m too nervous. The absolute hell of doing squats distracts me from my nerves.

5. Worst on-stage experience?

One of the worst on-stage experiences I’ve had was when my boss at my old day job (a securities fraud law firm) asked me to do a “funny powerpoint” for their high-powered clients. I agreed to do it - not only for the extra cash but because it was something creative instead of my normal work stuck in spreadsheets. It was a disaster.

The clients didn’t get my humor at all. It also didn’t help that I was an inexperienced comedian trying to make jokes about complicated financial concepts. After I got off stage, the lead partner of the firm came up to me and patted me on the head and said, “Well, *I* thought it was funny.” I felt like I was going to die.

6. What do you love about Scotland?

Honestly, since I’ve never been here before, what I love about Scotland comes mostly from movies, literature, and art. I have long been obsessed with anything involving the British isles.

The landscape, the history, the art, the people. I absolutely can’t wait to come see it for myself and learn what makes the Scots particularly unique. 

7. What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve ever done?

I honestly don’t know, but I’ve heard that Scots are an honest and forthright people, and I’m pretty honest and forthright, so maybe that’s it. I also just mailed off my DNA to see what my heritage is, so maybe I’ll find out that I’m part Scottish. That would be cool.

8. Favorite Scottish food/drink?

Whisky. Unfortunately though, I’ve had to cut whisky out because it turns out, I am allergic to hangovers. I stick to the lightest of beers these days.

9. Sum up your show in three words.

America, Jesus, Death. (FUN!)

Sara Schaefer’s debut stand up show ‘Little White Box’ will be at the Pleasance Courtyard – That for the month of August for tickets go to www.edfringe.com