Ed Baerlein

 

Sallie Diamond and Ed Baerlein -- theater people extraordinaire.

Actor, director, and artistic director. Baerlein was a true man of the theater. He started his own company in Denver, Germinal Stage, in 1973. For nearly 50 years, he and wife Sallie Diamond kept the theater afloat. (Remember their old digs at 17th and Market, back when nobody went into that part of town?) Remarkably, he consistently took chances. He didn't stage the latest hit or old, sure-fire money makers. Instead, he chose obscure works, experimental works, great theatrical works that nobody staged anymore. And somehow, he kept on turning out interesting, challenging work, year after year -- in a town that is notoriously allergic to culture. I saw many of his productions, and never saw a bad one. Most importantly, he proved that you could follow your artistic instincts and dare to do exciting, original work and not starve to death. He lived life on his terms, and he succeeded. We are all richer for his being here.