Local comedian Tanyalee Davis proves that funny things come in small packages. At 3’6’’, the “little person” isn’t afraid of the word midget. She works it, owns it, and in the process, owns the audiences that fall for her self-effacing, utterly hilarious stand-up act.

After undergoing spinal surgery more than a year ago to ease the pain from spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal that causes compression of the nerve roots), Davis has kept busy with frequent overseas gigs and standing in for Kevin Burke at his Fitz of Laughter show at the Fitzgerald Casino & Hotel.

This weekend she’ll be performing a longer set at Bonkerz Comedy Club at Palace Station, where she can employ her favorite format: a combination of storytelling and stand-up that draws from her own trials and successes. Hoping for her own show in Las Vegas, the comedian is shopping for the perfect venue. “I’m not asking for the friggin’ Colosseum,” she says, just a nice space to perform. The Weekly caught up Davis after a trip to the gym.

What types of machines are you able to use at the gym?

It’s $19 a month and I just do the one machine. It’s like a step machine. I have to lean forward on the casing because I can’t use the handlebars, then my husband just programs it for me. So I do the “I’m a maniac, maniac…” for a little bit then I do some stretching.

Do you get awkward glances from curious onlookers at the gym?

Some guy took a picture of my ass the other day. I didn’t realize what was happening. I thought he had a flashlight. I didn’t realize it until he ducked down and literally ran away. Then I realized, “Oh my God! He just took a picture of my ass!” He must have been a booty man. He appreciated the good ass, so you have to give him that.

You’re all about “finding the sexy.” In a town like Las Vegas where sexy seems to mean near-nudity and a certain cosmetically enhanced body type, how do you keep it sexy?

I think, as somebody whose body type most people wouldn’t think to be sexy, a lot of it has to do with confidence and how you carry yourself. I work with what I’ve got, and my attitude is really upbeat and positive. It’s the confidence and people don’t expect that from someone like me. That’s more sustainable than physical beauty anyway.

I know you split your time between local gigs and shows in countries like Ireland and England. Why the big push to perform overseas?

The pay is a lot better over there. Most of the gigs over there pay about £225 (or a little less than $400) for 20-30 minutes. Considering it costs me anywhere from $800-1,200 to travel over there, that’s paid for in about two shows. … I’ve been getting a lot more TV exposure over there, and I’m part of a troupe called Abnormally Funny People. We’re working with the BBC to get our own sketch comedy show.

Besides this upcoming Bonkerz gig and filling in for Kevin Burke at the Fitzgerald, what else do you have planned locally?

I’ve been focusing on getting my own show here in Vegas. I need to get the word out, because I believe I have something actually new to bring to the table with the combination of my stand-up and my solo show. At The Fitzgerald, I did 70 minutes and it was one of my best shows. With the success of Little People Big World and all the reality type TV shows, my life and the way I talk about it on stage is sort of voyeuristic. I think my show could be really great in Vegas.

What is your solo show like?

It’s called “Little Do They Know,” and it’s rather autobiographical. It is more like storytelling. Over in the UK, they embrace that a lot more. I feel like we have shorter attention spans here in North America. At Bonkerz, I will be able to do it at my own pace while incorporating the longer stories. It gives people a chance to get engaged. I think that’s the power of comedy, you don’t have to be funny every two seconds. That’s when you know you are a good performer, when you can keep peoples’ attention while you’re on the stage for 45 minutes to an hour.

You seemed so at home sharing the stage at the Beauty Bar Backyard Comedy Show with Brandt Tobler and former local comedian Bryan Bruner. Do you feel there is a fraternity of local comedians?

I really like the guys who are here in Vegas. I feel bad for them because they don’t have a lot of outlets to perform, but I really believe there is a lot of talent. I’m taking Bruner on the road with me in the new year. We’re going to Minnesota, Wisconsin and Florida. With those guys, I love sharing the stage with them and I try to help them out whenever I can. It’s all about paying it forward. You want to have your good friends with you when you’re on your way up.