What Staatstheater Meiningen does

Staatstheater Meiningen is a publicly funded German state theater (Landestheater) operating under the Free State of Thuringia and the municipality of Meiningen from its headquarters at Bernhardstraße 5, Meiningen. Founded in 1831 as the court theater of Duke Georg II of Saxe-Meiningen, the institution today operates three venues — the Großes Haus (main house for opera and musicals), the Kammerspiele (chamber stage), and the Rautenkranz (puppet theater) — and runs five performance programs: Musiktheater, Schauspiel, Ballett, Konzerte, and Junges Staatstheater, supported by the resident Meininger Hofkapelle orchestra under GMD Killian Farrell.

The product portfolio is a full-season repertoire of opera (Verdi, Wagner, Händel, Schnittke, Saint-Saëns), dramatic theater, ballet (Jorge Pérez Martínez, choreographer), concert series (including the long-running Wartburgkonzert series at Wartburg Castle since 2003, broadcast by Deutschlandfunk Kultur), and young-audience programming anchored by the 40-year-old Meininger Puppentheater. Distribution combines a physical Theaterkasse (closed for summer break July 18 – August 16, 2026), the Eventim Inhouse online ticketing system operating 24/7, and a layered subscription offering (Großes Haus/Kammerspiele Abonnements, FlexiABO, Junges Wahlabo, Weihnachtsgeschenk-Abo). Auxiliary revenue lines include Theatergastronomie, Theaterführungen, and ancillary services.

As a non-profit public cultural institution, the theater is funded primarily through state/regional subsidies, supplemented by ticket sales, subscription income, donations via the Förderverein, and partnerships with the Theaterstiftung and Kulturstiftung Meiningen-Eisenach. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Audience segments span the general public of Thuringia, families and youth (children's matinees, puppet theater), and schools/educators (Pädagogendinner, school matinees). Recent strategic emphasis has centered on the 2026/27 jubilee season '200 Jahre Herzog Georg II von Sachsen-Meiningen,' featuring the world-premiere commissioned musical 'Der Herzog & Ich – Das Theatermachermusical,' alongside industry recognition including the Götz-Friedrich-Preis 2025/26 and the Martin-Linzer-Theaterpreis 2026.

Name

Staatstheater Meiningen

Legal name

Staatstheater Meiningen

Website

https://staatstheater-meiningen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1831

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Staatstheater Meiningen is a publicly funded German state theater in Meiningen, Thuringia, operating three venues and five programs — opera, drama, ballet, concerts, and young-audience theater — with a resident orchestra and full subscription and single-ticket distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Performing Arts Theater

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Dance Companies (71112)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Classical Ballet (Full-Length & Repertoire) (MPAGADAA)

Keywords

• Live performing arts
• Opera productions
• Stage drama theater
• Classical ballet performances
• Cultural venue programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Meiningen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Staatstheater Meiningen is a publicly funded German state theater that produces and presents live performing arts across opera, drama, ballet, concerts, and youth/puppet theater. It operates three performance venues and a resident orchestra, selling tickets and subscriptions to the general public, while also providing educational programs and theater tours.

Product overview

Staatstheater Meiningen is a multi-venue state theater offering a diverse portfolio of live performance products across five main categories: Musiktheater (opera and music theater), Schauspiel (drama), Ballett (ballet), Konzerte (concerts), and Junges Staatstheater (young audience programs including puppet theater). The theater operates three primary venues: the Großes Haus (main house for large-scale operas and musicals), the Kammerspiele (chamber stage for intimate dramas), and the Rautenkranz (puppet theater venue). The Meininger Hofkapelle serves as the resident orchestra. The 2026/27 season ('Spielzeit 2026/27') features notable productions including the world premiere of 'Der Herzog & Ich - Das Theatermachermusical' celebrating 200 years of Duke Georg II, a new staging of Schnittke's 'Historia von D. Johann Fausten,' Wagner's 'Tannhäuser' at Wartburg Castle, and the operas 'Otello,' 'Falstaff,' and 'Henry VIII.' The theater also maintains special event programming including the annual Wartburgkonzert series with Deutschlandfunk Kultur.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Großes Haus (Main Theater Venue) The main theater venue of Staatstheater Meiningen, hosting the largest productions including operas, musicals, and major dramatic performances.
• Kammerspiele (Chamber Stage) Chamber stage venue for more intimate theatrical productions and dramatic performances.
• Rautenkranz (Puppet Theater Venue) Performance space used for puppet theater (Puppentheater) and young audience productions.
• Musiktheater (Opera and Music Theater) Opera and music theater productions including works by composers such as Verdi, Wagner, Schnittke, Händel, and commissioned world premieres.
• Schauspiel (Drama) Dramatic theater productions including contemporary plays, adaptations of novels, and classical drama.
• Ballett (Ballet) Ballet productions including classical ballets and contemporary dance works, with choreography by Jorge Pérez Martínez.
• Konzerte (Concerts) Concert series including symphony concerts, foyer concerts, Wartburg concerts, and special concert events performed by the Meininger Hofkapelle.
• Junges Staatstheater (Young Audience Programs) Programs for young audiences including puppet theater (Puppentheater), young drama (Junges Schauspiel), and young music (Junge Musik) productions.
• Meininger Hofkapelle (Resident Orchestra) The state orchestra of Staatstheater Meiningen, performing in opera productions and concert series, under musical direction of GMD Killian Farrell.
• Historia von D. Johann Fausten (Opera Production) Opera in three acts with epilogue by Alfred Schnittke, based on the folk tale of Faust. Premiered September 2026 in a new production directed by Eva-Maria Höckmayr.
• Don Quijote (Ballet Production) Classical ballet in four acts and eight scenes by Marius Petipa, with music by Léon Minkus, choreographed by Jorge Pérez Martínez.
• Tannhäuser und der Sängerkrieg auf Wartburg (Wartburg Opera Production) Romantic opera by Richard Wagner performed in a semi-staged production at the Wartburg Castle festival hall, a tradition since 2003.
• Otello (Opera Production) Opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi, based on Shakespeare's Othello, directed by Hinrich Horstkotte.
• Falstaff (Opera Production) Lyrical comedy in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi, based on Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor, directed by Vivien Hohnholz.
• Henry VIII. (Opera Production) Opera in four acts by Charles Camille Saint-Saëns, directed by Andreas Kriegenburg, performed in French with German supertitles.
• Der Herzog & Ich - Das Theatermachermusical (World Premiere Musical) World premiere commissioned musical about Duke Georg II of Meiningen, with music and arrangements by Christoph Zirngibl, book and lyrics by Titus Hoffmann, marking the 'Georg-Jahr' anniversary.
• Flavio, Re de' Longobardi (Opera Production) Dramma per musica in three acts by Georg Friedrich Händel, part of the 2026/27 music theater program.
• Die kleine Meerjungfrau (Puppet Theater Production) Puppet theater production based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, part of the Junges Staatstheater program.
• Buena Vista Dancing Club (Ballet Production) Ballet production by Jorge Pérez Martínez, part of the 2026/27 ballet program.
• Wartburgkonzert (Concert Series) Concert series broadcast by Deutschlandfunk Kultur, featuring performances in the Festsaal of Wartburg Castle, including the 427th Wartburgkonzert in September 2026.
• Theaterführungen (Theater Tours) Guided tours of the theater providing visitors with behind-the-scenes access to the venues and theater operations.
• Theatergastronomie (Theater Dining) Theater dining and hospitality services for audiences before, during, and after performances.
• Abonnement (Subscription Packages) Subscription packages including season subscriptions for the Großes Haus and Kammerspiele, flexible options (FlexiABO), and special programs for young audiences (Junges Wahlabo).

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Eventim InhousecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026
• FördervereincoreOthers
• TheaterstiftungcoreOthers
• Kulturstiftung Meiningen-EisenachcoreOthers
• Meininger MuseenflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner
• Schubert Theater WienminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor
• Lehmann + Wenzel Figurentheater LeipzigminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Nationaltheater Mannheim: Baden-Württemberg state theater offering opera, drama, ballet, and the Mannheimer Mozartorchester. Comparable multi-genre state-theater model, larger metropolitan catchment.
• Semperoper Dresden: Major Saxony state opera with resident Sächsische Staatskapelle. Comparable publicly funded opera-and-concert model but operating at significantly higher international visibility and scale.
• Staatsoper Stuttgart: Larger Baden-Württemberg state opera with broader repertoire and three performance venues (Großes Haus, Kleines Haus, Container). Comparable role as a publicly funded opera/drama/ballet house but at significantly larger scale and metropolitan reach.
• Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz München: Bavarian state theater focused on operetta, musical, and light opera with ballet. Comparable publicly funded repertory theater at larger metropolitan scale.

Direct peers

• Theater Erfurt: Regional Thuringia state theater offering opera, musical, ballet, drama, and youth programming with the Philharmonisches Orchester Erfurt. Same funding model and audience catchment as Meiningen.
• Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar: Closest regional peer — also a Thuringia state theater (DNT Weimar) operating across opera, drama, ballet, and concert with the Staatskapelle Weimar. Comparable scale, repertory model, and public funding structure.
• Theater Altenburg Gera: Thuringia regional theater offering opera, drama, ballet, and concerts. Shared the Götz-Friedrich-Preis 2025/26 with Meiningen, indicating directly comparable artistic ambition and scale.

Emerging players

• Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Halle: Saxony-Anhalt state orchestra and theater complex with opera, drama, and concert programming. Comparable state-funded repertory orchestra-theater model, but smaller in scope.

Others

• Wartburg-Stiftung: UNESCO-listed Wartburg Castle foundation — direct institutional partner hosting the Tannhäuser Wartburgkonzert series since 2003. Not a competitor but a critical venue collaborator.
• Schubert Theater Wien: Vienna puppet theater listed as a Meininger Puppentheater touring/distribution partner. Comparable scale within the German-language puppet-theater niche, though geographically distinct.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/staatstheatermeiningen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/staatstheater-meiningen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Staatstheater Meiningen