‘Brilliant,’ 41 and Lost to AIDS: The Theater World Asks Why

Michael Friedman was well-known in the world of theater. A composer an lyricist, he was much loved and a rising star. However, his life was tragically cut short by AIDS, leaving family and friends wondering what they could have done to prevent this.

Michael Friedman was diagnosed with AIDS only July of this year after experiencing difficulty breathing, weakness, and splotches on the face. Some of his friends had thought that the splotches were reminiscent of Kaposi's Sarcoma at the time, but dismissed it due to it being 2017 and not the 80's. Today, HIV/AIDS is viewed as a manageable chronic disease that allows people to live almost as long as someone who is not infected.

However, this was not to be the case for Mr. Friedman. Less than three months after his diagnosis and despite hospitalizations and relentless anti-retroviral therapies, it was too late. In the wake of his passing, the theater community tries to continue his work and are more aware of the fact that HIV/AIDS is still very much capable of taking away those we cherish in the prime of their lives.

‘Brilliant,’ 41 and Lost to AIDS: The Theater World Asks Why

~Scarlett Guo