Meiningen Court Theatre

The Meiningen Court Theatre, today Theater Meiningen (Meininger Theater), is a four-division theater in the Thuringian town of Meiningen. The ensemble of the theater offers musical theater (opera, operetta, musicals), drama, concerts and puppet shows. In addition, ballet complements and Youth Theatre, from Eisenach State Theatre produced and performed. Connected to the theater continues to be the Meiningen orchestra. The traditional stage operates as South Thuringia State Theatre and is under the umbrella of the Cultural Foundation Meiningen-Eisenach, Thuringia, jointly funded by the state, city and county of Schmalkalden Meiningen.

The house is the birthplace of the modern practice to date director's theater, known as the Meininger or Meiningen Ensemble. At the end of the 19th century than it had Meiningen Court Theatre of the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen Theatre made this profound reform with numerous guest appearances throughout Europe known. The Meiningen Court Orchestra was conducted between 1880 and 1914 by Hans von Bülow, Richard Strauss, Wilhelm Berger and Max Reger and performed in European concert halls.

This tradition and further flowering times were Meininger Theater in a significant stage are not only in Thuringia and secure her to this day a special place in the theater world. This further characterizes the self-image as "Theaterstadt", town of theatre.