Meininger State Theatre

The Meiningen State Theater Meiningen is a four-circle theater in Meiningen, Thuringia. The theater offers musical theater (opera, operetta, musicals), drama, concerts and puppet theater.
The program is supplemented by the inclusion of ballet performances that are produced and performed by the State Theater Eisenach.
The orchestra attached to the theater is the Meininger Hofkapelle.
Until 2017 the theater operated as "Südthüringisches Staatstheater" before it changed its name to "Meininger Staatstheater".
It is jointly funded by the state, city and district of Schmalkalden Meiningen under the umbrella of the Meiningen-Eisenach Cultural Foundation, Thuringia.
Meiningen is the birthplace of the modern directorial theater, which was made famous in the years 1874 to 1890 by the drama group of the theater - called "Die Meininger" - with guest performances all over Europe.
Between 1880 and 1914 the Meiningen court orchestra was conducted by Hans von Bülow, Richard Strauss, Wilhelm Berger and Max Reger.
This tradition, its history and further successes have secured the Meininger Theater a special place in the world of theater to this day.
The importance of the Meiningen theater is emphasized by the Thuringian region, which Meiningen calls the "theater city".

(Source: Wikipedia)

The theater is the cultural heart of the city and is well-known nationally. It attracts visitors from all over Germany for drama, opera and concert performances. A visit to the theater is always a special highlight.

The aesthetics of the neoclassical building correspond to the ideal of a 19th century temple of the muses.
In the gable of the building is the motto of the building owner Georg II: "To the people for joy and exaltation". The two front sides of the theater portal are decorated with reliefs of the muses Thalia and Melpomene, the Greek patron goddesses for comedy and tragedy. Two bronze door knockers on the middle entrance door in the form of a comic and a tragic mask symbolize the performing arts.
This is where the model productions were rehearsed, with which the acting troupe of George II caused a sensation throughout Europe on their guest performances.

First court theater:
Opening December 17, 1831 with the opera “Frau Diavolo” by Auber;
Destroyed by a major fire in 1908

Second court theater:
Opening after 20 months of construction under architect Karl Behlert December 17, 1909 with “Wallenstein's Camp” and “Die Piccolomini” by Schiller.

2010/11 - Thorough renovation and equipment with the latest stage technology

Source: meiningen.de/Tourismus-Kultur/Kultur-entsehen/Historische-Orte-und-Pers%C3%B6nitäten/Historische-Orte