Texas State Launches Scholarship Fund to Honor the Late Trent Armand Kendall

A crowdfunding campaign to create an endowed scholarship to honor the late Broadway actor Trent Armand Kendall has been launched by Kaitlin Hopkins the head of the BFA Musical Theatre program at Texas State University, and her husband and faculty member Jim Price, who were long time friends of Kendall and one-time cast mates with him on the hit musical Batboy.

The Trent Armand Memorial Scholarship will be awarded each year to a deserving African-American musical theater student who exhibits exceptional abilities in musical theater and represents the values and quality of character that defined Trent Armand Kendall. Academic achievement and financial need will also be a consideration.

"Trent exemplified honesty, kindness, and an uncompromised respect for all people, regardless of race, gender or religious beliefs," said Hopkins recently. "One of the things that defined Trent was his passion and utter joy for life, his capacity for love, his integrity, and his tireless efforts to give back to his community. We felt this was an appropriate way to honor Trent's legacy and what he stood for. He was a gifted artist and a beloved member of the Broadway community".

Trent's career included success as a writer, producer, actor, front man, international headliner, recording artist and radio host. His Broadway credits include The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Hair, Into the Woods, and the Actors Fund concert of Chess.

Additionally, he was the award-winning writer and star of the acclaimed one-man musical, Picture Incomplete, which was named Best Musical at the United Solo Festival, and he wrote LOUIS-AND-ELLA!, which made its New York debut in spring 2018.

Trent was the celebrated front man of the 10-piece jazz, blues, soul orchestra, Brass ILLUSION. Recordings include multiple cast albums, Introducing Trent Kendall (Dress Circle), Picture Incomplete (LML) and Trent Armand Kendall + Brass ILLUSION (Onemoe Music).

His other theatre credits include, off Broadway: Shinbone Alley, The Wizard of Oz, Bat Boy the Musical, (for which he won the Outer Critic's Circle Award), The Scottsboro Boys (Los Angeles Premiere - Ovation Award), and the first national tour of Smokey Joe's Cafe.

He also made numerous appearances on television, film, and radio, including turns on "Iron Fist" (Netflix), "Nicki" (ABC Family), "Blue Bloods" (CBS), "Law & Order," "Law & Order SVU" (NBC), "Strangers With Candy" (Comedy Central), Pink Panther (MGM), VH1, Five Guys Named Moe (VCI), "Hey Mr. Producer!" (PBS), and "Trent Armand Kendall's Broadway Download "(CWRN - host, producer).

Donations can be made at https://donate.txstate.edu/crowdfunding?cfpage=project&project_id=21740