We prove the Ax-Lindemann-Weierstrass theorem with derivatives for the uniformizing functions of genus zero Fuchsian groups of the first kind. Our proof relies on differential Galois theory, monodromy of linear differential equations, the study of algebraic and Liouvillian solutions, differential algebraic work of Nishioka towards the Painlevé irreducibility of certain Schwarzian equations, and considerable machinery from the model theory of differentially closed fields.

Our techniques allow for certain generalizations of the Ax-Lindemann-Weierstrass theorem that have interesting consequences. In particular, we apply our results to give a complete proof of an assertion of Painlevé (1895). We also answer certain cases of the André-Pink conjecture, namely, in the case of orbits of commensurators of Fuchsian groups.