Fendig Theatre for Children
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History

Fendig Summer Theatre began as Rensselaer Children's Summer Theatre in 1976. Through the diligent work of its first Board of Directors: William Moriarty, Pat Collins, Robert Garrity, Bonnie Louck, Gwen Potter, Judy Steiner, Ralph Shaw, and Helen Watts, the theatre produced its first production, The Pied Piper.
The goal of this non-for-profit community organization is to produce one full-length musical play each summer.  Began as a cautious experiment, the Theatre grew.  The first production allowed children in grades one through eight to participate.  Soon it became necessary to limit its actors and actresses to students in grades three through eight and then grades four through eight where it remains today.  Every child who auditions is given a role.  Children who wish to assist the production with make-up, set construction, publicity or as a member of the technical crew are welcomed.
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Past Performances:

Click a title to view the playbill

1976 - 
The Pied Piper
1977 - Oliver!
1978 - The Hobbit
1979 - The King and I
1980 - The Music Man
1981 - Bye Bye Birdie
1982 - The Sound of Music
1983 - Nicholas Nickleby
1984 - Annie
1985 - Barnum
1986 - The Wiz
1987 - Hello, Dolly!
1988 - 45 Minutes from Broadway
1989 - Oklahoma!
1990 - Guys and Dolls
1991 - South Pacific
1992 - The Music Man
1993 - The King and I
1994 - Brigadoon
1995 - Peter Pan
1996 - Lil Abner
1997 - The Wizard of Oz

Past Performances:

Click a title to view the playbill

1998 - Annie
1999 - The Pirates of Penzance
2000 - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
2001 - The Sound of Music
2002 - Cinderella
2003 - Annie Get Your Gun
2004 - The Wiz
2005 - Disney's Aladdin Jr.
2006 - Oklahoma!
2007 - Disney's Beauty and the Beast
2008 - Disney's Alice in Wonderland Jr.
2009 - Thoroughly Modern Millie
2010 - Wind in the Willows
2011 - Aida
2012 - Seussical
2013 - Singin in the Rain
2014 - Willy Wonka
2015 - Mary Poppins
2016 - The Wizard of Oz
2017 - Hello, Dolly!
2018 - Disney's Newsies
2019 - The Hunchback of Notre Dame
If you have a program from a missing year, please email Fendig if we can borrow the program and digitize it for all to see.  Thank you!
Fendig Theatre for Children is a nonprofit, 501 (3)(c), education organization. We help children discover themselves, build confidence and connect with their community through creative/performing arts activities.

​Also known as Ralph & Lilian Fendig Summer Theatre for Children, Inc.


  • Home
    • Contact
  • Programs
  • About
    • History
  • YouTube
  • News
  • Shop