WE GOT TIX: Meet Prop Joe, Marlo Stanfield, Poot, and the Real Omar on Friday at "The Art of the Wire" in Boston

It's no secret around here that we're huge fans of HBO's THE WIRE. And thanks to Harvard University, we've had a chance to see the creators and actors up close: back in 2008, we brought you video of series creator DAVID SIMON showing up at the Kennedy School. And in 2009, we brought you the only recording of the time KIMA, BUBBLES, and OMAR showed up to rub elbows with WILLIAM JULIUS WILSON. 

Chances are, though, you didn't get to do that shit. 

So when the BOSTON BOOK FESTIVAL suggested we team up for a panel devoted to THE WIRE as a pre-party for this weekend's festivities, we jumped. Mission accomplished: this Friday, we're bringing the actors behind some of your favorite characters -- alongside some of the real-life inspirations for THE WIRE and its related masterworks of sequential cinema. And you can come with us.

"THE ART OF THE WIRE: A CONVERSATION WITH CAST AND CREATORS" goes down Friday at 7:30 pm at the Back Bay Events Center, 180 Berkeley Street near Copley Square. The guests include MARLO STANFIELD alterego JAMIE HECTOR, ROBERT "PROP JOE" CHEW, and TRAY "POOT" CHANEY. 

(Oh, also: read our new inteview with PROP JOE to find out how he found out his time on the series had come to and end -- and which detail of his exit he objected to.)

But that's not all. Also on board for the "THE ART OF THE WIRE" are: DONNIE ANDREWS, who was not only one of the real-life inspirations for OMAR, but also had a cameo in the series (he's one of the dudes who straps Omar with a phone-book flak vest before he gets rolled in prison). We got FRAN BOYD, who was an inspiration for Simon's earlier series, THE CORNER. And we've got the infamous crime novelist GEORGE PELECANOS, who was a major part of the ace writing team on THE WIRE. The entire piece will be moderated by the REV. EUGENE RIVERS. Following the panel: a Q&A and autograph signing. 

Tickets to this once-in-a-lifetime deal are going fast. [Buy Tix.] We're giving away a pair at random on our contests page. But we're also giving away a pair on our Facebook page: like us and post your favorite MARLO STANFIELD QUOTE HERE to be entered to win a pair of tix to the event. Winner will be notified via Facebook at 6 pm today.