Freihaustheater
Josepha grew up mostly in Mannheim, and moved with her family first to Munich then to Vienna, following the singing career of her sister Aloysia. By 1789 she was the "prima donna" in the theatrical troupe run by Johann Friedel at the suburban Theater auf der Wieden. Following Friedel's death in that year, the theater was taken over by Emanuel Schikaneder, who retained her in the new company he formed. She appears to have been an important member of the troupe: the collaborative opera "Der Stein der Weisen", a sort of ancestor to "The Magic Flute", includes no arias for coloratura soprano because at the time it was written Hofer was on maternity leave.