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It's hard to believe, but the end is in sight. We're right on the edge of our final five-show weekend. The final stretch, as it were. I'm really sorry to see this one end, I gotta tell you. I'm anxious to get home and see Gavan and Buster, but boy am I gonna miss this gig. I can't emphasize how rare it is to reach the end of a run and be sorry to see it end.

By the way, here are a few more snapshots that I managed to get at Aaron Posner's cast party the other night. Props to that poor guy, by the way, who hosted a cast party knowing that he had a big meeting at 9 a.m. the next morning. Here's the man himself. Just in case I haven't put it in writing, his production of Picasso at the Lapin Agile was a real pleasure to be associated with. Aaron likes to tell the story that he's infamous in Philadelphia for taking a long time to cast a show, but he broke his own record on this one, taking nine months to get the cast in place. During several post-show discussions, he joked about how everyone in Philly hated him for that, but that he was so happy to have put together the cast he had. I have to tell you, that I could not be more pleased that he selected me to be a part of this very special experience. And I'm doubly excited that I wasn't the last one he cast! I think that distinction goes to Youssef, who plays "The Visitor." I think. Anyway, suffice it to say that it's been a wonderful introduction to the Philadelphia theater scene, and I can't be happier to have had the chance to meet Greg, Ian, Kate, Ben, Tony, Charlie, Maggie and Youssef.

Anyway, more photos:

Local Philadelphia actor Matt Pfeiffer - a friend of Aaron's, and in the picture next to his, Mrs. Karen Peakes, another fine local actress. Both were in shows while I was in Philly, but with rehearsals & all, I wasn't able to see them. From what I'm told, it was my loss. Big time.

And here we have both of my roommates entranced by the same man. The guy in the dark jacket is Ishmael (not sure if I'm spelling that one correctly). Ishmael is a friend of Youssef's and stayed with us. The picture to the right, of course, is Kate Norris somehow avoiding having a decent photo taken one more time. Sneaky woman.

One final photo: This is Jesse Bernstein, yet another local Philadelphia actor, and one who may be known to City Theatre regulars in Pittsburgh. He was in the production of The Chosen that Aaron directed there a few years ago. It was a wonderful show, and I made no bones about telling them both that. Jesse was was around our rehearsals occasionally, filling in when the assistant director couldn't be there to take down Aaron's notes for him. Apparently in addition to acting, he's a closet transcriptionist.