Fendrick Theatre Fund

$1,000 Grants for Individual Theater Artists

The David R. Fendrick Theatre Fund was established at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo in memory of David Roos Fendrick (1941-1988), the critically applauded Western New York actor, director, writer and scholar. Fendrick was the youngest member of the first Lincoln Center Repertory Company and went on to a respected career in regional theaters across the country, including Buffalo’s Studio Arena Theatre. Among his many distinguished performances was his portrayal of Irish rebel and writer Brendan Behan in a one-man show that continues to hold the record as Buffalo’s longest-running theatrical performance.

This grant is awarded every other year. The David R. Fendrick Theatre Fund supports:

  • Individual artists and creatives*;
  • Projects with the potential for production;
  • Unique projects, including experimental and multi-media theatrical productions;
  • Under-represented or marginalized voices.
Applications Open Friday, July 1, 2022
Final Application Due Friday, August 19, 2022 by 11:59PM
Funding Announcement Mid-September 2022

*Eligible applicants include actors, directors, writers, composers, designers, performance artists, musicians, or other individual theater professionals, regardless of descriptive title or relationship to a particular institution, who contribute to the creative process of theater.

ASI uses Foundant’s GLM grants management system to accept applications. You can register for an account and complete the application using the button below. If you have trouble accessing the portal or require assistance with your application, contact Holly Grant at holly@asiwny.org or 716-833-3004 x512.

Preview and Complete Application

Criteria for Funding

This grant is designed to support of one creative theater artist with a $1,000 award. It is made in memory of the fund’s establishers and founders, Neil Garvey and Jesse Kregal.

Proposals that meet the following will be considered:

  • Supports the work of an individual applicant;
  • Is for a theatre-based project;
  • Funding would be used for writing or production of a new work, completion of a work in progress, and/or new production of an existing work;
  • Supports or features under-represented voices.

The selection panel will consider the following criteria when evaluating proposals:

  • Has a clear artistic vision.
  • The significance, distinctiveness, and innovative qualities of the project.
  • Provides creative contributions to the artistic discipline.
  • Viability of the project’s prospects for completion.
  • Proposals that include novel approaches to public engagement with regards to the creative process or public presentation.

The proposed project must be mid-way through its lifespan—i.e., beyond conception, but not yet to the point that it would be considered programmatic or general operating support for an established theater. Selection will be based on the quality of the proposal and the merit of past work. Preference will be given to projects that demonstrate a feasible plan for completion and performance in the Greater Buffalo area.

2022 Grant Recipient

Congratulations to 2022 Fendrick Theatre Fund recipient Umar Azam! He was awarded the $1,000 grant for his production of Echoes of a Faraway Land: Unheard Voices of Pakistani People in America.

Umar Azam's Headshot

Photo of Umar Azam

“Echoes of a Faraway Land: Unheard Voices of Pakistani People in America” is a compilation of true stories written and read by the very people that lived it. Pakistani-Americans in WNY do not believe that they are accurately or equitably represented in the community or in theater. Not only are their voices underrepresented, they seem to be missed entirely. It is certainly time for a change.

Theatrical productions offer many effective ways of overcoming limitations including language and literacy barriers; and presenting authentic information as accessible and relevant to communities’ lived experiences. As part of this project, the participants will be given the opportunity to present their lived experiences of coming to America from Pakistan. These presentations, which will be bilingual, will also allow theater-goers to see new topics (Pakistani stories) in a familiar light (theater) and, in doing so, it is the hope that community acceptance and knowledge of local Pakistani people will improve.

Umar Azam is excited to be a recipient of a Fendrick Theatre Fund grant. His past work includes the 48 hour film festival with Green Buffalo Productions (GBP), Drake in the musical “Annie”, and Beads in “Everything’s Groovy”. He also wrote “Turn me in” which won GBP’s Quarantine Quarters writing challenge, in addition to a handful of other plays and screenplays. Currently, he is also working as an Assistant Director for the short film “Look Up” under GBP and is working on various theater projects across WNY. Additionally he worked as the musical director in Inclusive Theater’s production of “As You Like It” by William Shakespeare.

Past Grant Recipients

Past grant recipients include:

Umar Azam, 2022 – “Echoes of a Faraway Land: Unheard Voices of Pakistani People in America”
Celeste Lawson, 2020 – “Typography of Women: I Am Not Invisible”
Heather Fangsrud, 2018 – “Knock Knock, Jesus Calling”
Matthew LaChiusa, 2016 – to commission “The Inquiry Into the Fate of the U.S.S. Pequod”
Joy Scime, 2016 – for production of “Dissonance”
David Oliver, 2008 – playwright, for research on Vincent Van Gogh
Anna Kay France, 2005 – for playwriting for “The Great Tree”
Anthony Cardinale, 2002 – for the production of the original play “The Red Heifer, A Tale of Jerusalem”
Kelly Beuth, 2001 – for the production of Sternberg’s “Miss Julie”
Timothy White, 2000 – Life Achievement Award
Susan Hodge Anner, 1999 – for playwriting “Searching for Cindy Crawford”
Kenneth Shaw, 1998 – for design and written adaptation of the Nancy Drew Book, “The Mystery at Lilac Inn” by Carolyne Keene (Edward Stratemeyer) for TOY Company
Geraldine Duskin, 1997 – for costume design, “Cardinal in the Snow” a premiere Pick of the Crop Dance Company Production, based on the poetry of Rilke
Jerry Finnegan, 1996 – to take his production of Samuel Beckett’s “Krapp’s Last Tape” to the Edinburgh Theatre Festival
Vincent O’ Neill, 1995 – to develop a stage adaptation of “Finnegan’s Wake” by James Joyce
Kelli Grey Bocock and Michael Hake, 1994 – to produce a musical adaptation of “The Snark” by Lewis Carroll
Jack Hunter, 1993 – to produce “The Speed of Darkness” by Steve Tesich
Michele Costa, 1992 – to develop puppetry production, “On the Hill,” based on “Spoon River Anthology” by Edgar Lee Masters
Robert Waterhouse, 1991 – to direct “The Seagull” by Anton Chekhov
Tom Dooney, 1990 – to direct “La Ronde” by Arthur Schnitzler