"He was the inspiration for creating the Theater Development Fund, to give support to noncommercial plays and musicals."

Officials of the Theater Development Fund acknowledge their tricky relations with Broadway producers.

It sells more than $1.7 million in discount tickets annually and is operated by the Theater Development Fund, a nonprofit performing arts organization.

The Theater Development Fund is also considering adding a public bathroom.

Then the leadership of the Theater Development Fund changed hands.

Thomas F. Leahy, president of the Theater Development Fund, agreed.

Officials at the Theater Development Fund said they believed that the new system would encourage producers to send over more tickets earlier in a show's run.

For his work on that show, he received the 1993-94 Astaire Award from the Theater Development Fund.

Tickets: $10; $5 for students and the elderly; Theater Development Fund vouchers accepted.

The Theater Development Fund, which administers the awards, announced the winners last week.