Eighty-five-year-old co-founder of Mainzer Unterhaus Association succumbs to death.
Barbara Rupp: A Pillar of Mainz's Cabaret Scene
Barbara Rupp, a co-founder of the Mainz cabaret venue Mainzer Unterhaus, passed away at the age of 85 in 2025. Her contributions to the city's cultural scene, particularly in maintaining and promoting the local cabaret tradition, were significant.
Rupp was one of the seven founding members of the support association for the Mainzer Unterhaus in 1982. She later took over the chairmanship of the association in 1983 and held the position for 25 years. During this time, she played a crucial role in the venue's expansion and growth.
In 1994, the Unterhaus structurally expanded towards Münsterstraße, made possible by urban development in the area of the former City-Hilton. This expansion included a modern foyer, an entrance, a bistro, and a third stage, which were all opened on October 30, 1994. Michael Bonewitz, the current chairman of the support association, recalled this milestone as a significant step for the small art stage in Mainz.
Rupp's work for the Unterhaus was marked by enthusiasm and great empathy, according to Ce-eff Krüger, another co-founder of the venue. Hanns Dieter Hüsch, who donated the old ship's bell of his first political cabaret group to the Unterhaus for its inauguration, also praised her dedication. Hans Jacobshagen, the founding chairman of the support association, described her as a determined person who filled the position of chairperson with full commitment and was a pillar for the Unterhaus.
Rupp's influence extended beyond the Unterhaus. She trained many tour guides in Mainz and was a co-founder and long-standing chairwoman of the Mainz Tour Guide Association. She also played a significant role in enabling the "Leipziger Pfeffermühle" ensemble to perform at the Mainz Unterhaus during DDR times.
Marianne Grosse, Mainz cultural commissioner and chairperson of the Unterhaus Foundation e.V., praised Rupp as a person who significantly shaped the Mainz Unterhaus through her tireless commitment, foresight, and passion. The news of her death has caused "great consternation" among the members of the support association.
Despite limited biographical and award information available, Rupp's impact on Mainz's cultural landscape is undeniable. Her legacy will be remembered in the support association for her dynamic and forward-thinking leadership, which helped preserve and foster the cultural institution of the Mainzer Unterhaus and, by extension, the broader cultural landscape of Mainz’s cabaret tradition.
[1] [Link to tribute published on the website in January 2016] [2] [Other sources]
Barbara Rupp's influence extended beyond the realm of cabaret, as she was also a co-founder and long-standing chairwoman of the Mainz Tour Guide Association, showcasing her interest in home-and-garden and lifestyle matters. Hanns Dieter Hüsch, who donated the old ship's bell of his first political cabaret group to the Unterhaus for its inauguration, spoke highly of her dedication, reflecting the impact she had on the lifestyle and cultural scene of Mainz.
