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Franziska Wanninger

Franziska Wanninger

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Franziska Wanninger – Cabaret Artist, Author, Actress, Podcaster

A Voice from Bavaria that Strikes the Heart and the Mind

Franziska Wanninger, born in 1982 in Simbach am Inn, has developed into one of the most distinctive voices in German cabaret with her precise insights, vibrant performance spirit, and striking stage presence. Growing up in the Altötting district of Upper Bavaria, her journey spanned from studying to become a teacher to journalistic radio work, eventually leading to acting training in Los Angeles – a wealth of experience that continues to shape her artistic development today. Her programs blend character-driven cabaret, scenic vignettes, music, and sharp societal observation into evenings that make audiences laugh and leave a lasting impression.

With her debut "Just und Margit" (2011), Wanninger found a unique language that combines Bavarian humor, refined character portrayal, and astute everyday analysis. Since then, she has created award-winning solo programs, successful duo performances, books, podcasts, and radio productions. In 2024/2025, she returns to the stage with "Wenn du wen brauchst, ruf mich nicht an" – an evening that circles around life in hotel beds, the pitfalls of communication, and the big questions of love, happiness, and mortality with satirical sharpness, playful enthusiasm, and a strong musical sense.

Biography: From the Upper Palatinate to Hollywood – and Back to the Cabaret Stage

Wanninger completed her high school diploma through a second educational path, studied German and English for teaching at the University of Regensburg, and worked for several years at the Regensburg radio station. Scholarship and teaching positions took her to the USA – from a congressional office in Washington, D.C. to the University of Oregon. A decisive impulse for her music career, in the broader sense of the performing arts, came from her acting studies at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in Hollywood. The precision in composition, timing, and scenic arrangement honed there is clearly audible and visible in her cabaret work.

Back in Germany, Wanninger developed her trademark: character-driven cabaret with a high degree of performative intensity. Within seconds, she switches roles, tones, and perspectives; her characters possess social texture, dialectal nuances, and psychological wit. This artistic development quickly brought her to renowned stages such as the Münchner Lach- und Schießgesellschaft, the Scharfrichterhaus, and the Wirtshaus im Schlachthof, making her a sought-after guest on BR television.

Career Path: Programs, Breakthrough, and Awards

The breakthrough came with her debut "Just und Margit – Wo die Liebe hinfällt wachst koa Gros mehr" (2011). This was followed by "AHOIbe – Guad is guad gnua" (2014), "furchtlos glücklich" (2018), the acclaimed duo production "Wia d’Semmel so da Knödel" with Martin Frank (from 2018), and "Für mich soll’s rote Rosen hageln" (2021). Since October 2024, she has been touring with "Wenn du wen brauchst, ruf mich nicht an" – a program premiered in Munich that has captivated both audiences and critics alike. For her work, she has received several awards, including the Thurn und Taxis Cabaret Prize (1st Prize of the Jury and Audience Award, 2012) and "Das kleine Scharfrichterbeil" (2015). In 2024, she was appointed as one of the prestigious Münchner Turmschreiber – a strong signal of the literary quality of her texts.

As a director, Wanninger has also made her mark: She oversaw the debut of Eva Karl-Faltermeier with "Es geht dahi" (2019) – a work that later received various awards, including the Bavarian Cabaret Prize and the Prix Pantheon. This dual role as performer and director showcases her expertise in dramaturgical structure, fine-tuning zingers, and creating vibrant arrangements.

On Screen and Radio: Versatility in Front of the Camera and Microphone

In addition to live performances, Wanninger is featured on BR television – for example, in "Kabarett aus Franken" or "Fraueng’schichten." Her stage material has been recorded in TV broadcasts and aired in the ARD Mediathek and BR. She showcases her affinity for audio drama as the main character Eva Braun in the satirical SWR2 audio drama "Akte 88 – Die tausend Leben des Adolf Hitler" (three seasons). In the children's audio play "Fröschl & Flo" (Bayern 2), she lends her voice to one of the main characters. This versatility strengthens her artistic authority and expands her audience beyond cabaret stages.

Discography and Audio Recordings

Wanninger’s cabaret handwriting is also documented on recordings: "Just & Margit" (BSC Music, 2016) and "AHOIbe" (BSC Music, 2017) capture her early stage worlds, complemented by the single CD "furchtlos glücklich" (BSC Music, 2018). These productions demonstrate her blend of scenic comedy, songs, compositional interludes, and pointed monologues. Altogether, they create a radio-drama-like dramaturgy that works both live and in recording.

Authorship, Books, and Podcasts

As an author, Wanninger published, along with Martin Frank, the bestseller "Der famose Freistaat – Bayern verstehen für Anfänger und Fortgeschrittene" (Rowohlt) in 2020. This book became the starting point for a humorous reading with music and opened up an additional literary audience for her. In 2023, she wrote "Einfach machen" (Gräfe und Unzer) about the lives of Konny and Manuela Reimann; previously, she edited Horst Lichters "Ich bin dann mal still" (2021). These literary works affirm her careful content consideration and cultural journalistic reach.

Since 2020, she has been hosting the podcast "Der famose Freistaat," where she brings together significant Bavarian voices on a biweekly basis – from musicians like Claudia Koreck to cabaret colleagues like Martina Schwarzmann. In addition, "Ladies First," her joint podcast format with Claudia Pichler, focuses specifically on women in cabaret and comedy. In this role, Wanninger acts as a wise conversation partner, thoughtfully unfolding biographies, working methods, and cultural history.

Style and Signature: Character-Driven Cabaret, Voice, Music

Wanninger’s style is acoustically, physically, and linguistically highly precise. She works with finely drawn characters that are brought to life through dialects, dynamics, and micro-gestures. Her voice modulates between chanson-like warmth and comedic drive; the arrangements of her scenes follow clear musical arcs – refrain, crescendo, pause, coda. In the production of her evenings, she pays attention to coherent transitions, smart setlist dramaturgy, and a sound that carries the word rather than overshadowing it. This results in cabaret with a musical pulse that allows for improvisation without losing structure.

Content-wise, Wanninger avoids blatant outrage. She observes closely, unearthing life lies, power gestures, and self-deceptions – in both the small and the large. Her characters expose social role models, perform them joyfully, and deconstruct them simultaneously. This dual movement, which couples comedy with insight, makes her evenings enduring: the laugh resonates, the thought remains.

Cultural Influence and Placement

Within the younger Bavarian cabaret scene, Wanninger embodies a tradition-conscious yet contemporary style in tone and subject matter: following in the legacy of word artists like Gerhard Polt, but with her clear signature. Her programs regularly air in the strong cabaret formats of public broadcasters; additionally, she strengthens the exchange between stage, literature, and radio through readings and podcasts. Her appointment to the Münchner Turmschreiber officially recognizes the literary quality of her texts. Reviews highlight her versatility, rapid character changes, and the precision of her linguistic rhythm – attributes that distinguish her stage work from mere stand-up in aesthetic terms.

As a director, she nurtures new talent and contributes to making women's voices in cabaret more visible – both through her podcast "Ladies First" and through directorial work and collaborations. This anchoring in the ecosystem of stages, media, and literature makes Wanninger a reliable and productive cultural voice from Bavaria.

Current Projects: Stage, Television, Tour

Since October 2024, Wanninger has been touring with "Wenn du wen brauchst, ruf mich nicht an" through Bavaria, Germany, and selectively Austria. Media partners like the BR record her performances and excerpts; additionally, cultural institutions and festivals invite her for special events and benefit formats. Press reports and organizer information for the 2025 season indicate: The program strikes a chord – close to everyday life, craftily competent, with a refined comedic grammar. Meanwhile, she keeps her reading formats lively and curates podcast episodes where she introduces people with a special connection to Bavaria.

Awards and Recognition

The jury and audience award of the Thurn und Taxis Cabaret Prize (2012) marked an early milestone. This was followed by "Das kleine Scharfrichterbeil" (2015) and further nominations and recognition awards. Her membership in the Münchner Turmschreiber (2024) specifically honors the literary quality of her texts. Critics emphasize her versatility, rapid character shifts, and the precision of her linguistic rhythm – qualities that set her stage work apart from purely stand-up aesthetics.

Fan Voices

The reactions from fans clearly show: Franziska Wanninger fascinates people worldwide. On Instagram, a fan raves: "Your characters feel like real neighbors – and yet so brilliantly exaggerated!" A listener writes: "So much heart, so much brain – and that voice!" Another comment summarizes: "Cabaret that lingers long – thank you for this evening."

Conclusion

Franziska Wanninger combines scenic brilliance, literary precision, and musical sensitivity. Her programs are dramaturgically constructed like good albums: with thematic arcs, tension points, and clear hooks. As an author, podcaster, and actress, she expands the realm of cabaret towards cultural journalism and audio drama – with a sense of quality and joy in performance. For those seeking intelligent, relatable cabaret, her evenings are full of rich characters, skilled zingers, and great heart. Recommendation: live in the theater – close to the energy that defines her art.

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