Stages under the auspices of a city form the predominant foundation of theater venues in the German-speaking world. Using the example of the theater in Augsburg, Christine Holl-Enzler engages for the first time in a comprehensive discussion of the institution of the municipal theater. At the same time, she explores whether the municipal theater is perceived as a provincial stage and also considers its cultural significance for the urban society. Through a specific understanding of theater as an institution, new insights emerge for provincial stages, which may succeed in elevating themselves to the status of a state theater.