Where would Denver theater be without Ed Baierlein? He and his talented wife, Sallie Diamond, started Germinal Stage thirty years ago, back when there was very little theater of any kind in town. He has produced a roster of challenging, hilarious and thoughtful plays every year since -- and in the process, has discovered many of the city's best actors. Baierlein acts (brilliantly), directs, runs the box office and handles publicity, all with finesse. He's also one of the most literate theater people around, staging work that challenges the imagination while never pandering to the crowd.