"Hey Bruce, Just Checkin' In..." EXPLAINED!

It all started when interns Christine Lucas and Amy Claussen needed to leave a voicemail for Bruce that went much like this:

“Hey, Bruce. Just checkin’ in…
Is it normal for the Norwalk bridge to be stuck in the up position?
P.S. is there any way a van could drive onto the train tracks?
Thanks! You rock. Talk to you soon!”

Yes…early on in our summer, the interns learned that when things go wrong at the Playhouse, who ya gonna call? Bruce Miller! (imagine the Ghostbusters theme)

It didn’t take long before a trend started…and WHAHLAH! Brucemail was born. Brucemail is much like a voicemail, except your call actually gets returned and requests get done efficiently (and with a Steaz). Better yet, if you don’t have a reason to actually call Bruce (or can’t get to your handy cellular because of badger infestation), brucemail can be uttered (or blogged) at any time at any moment. Don't worry...we all know the big man upstairs (in the production office) will hear.

But before you start brucemailling all over the place, you must take heed of the rules (VERY IMPORTANT! This is theater; it’s gotta have some structure…unless you’re in Germany in the thirties.)

RULES:
1) A brucemail must begin with “Hey, Bruce. Just checkin’ in.”
2) Somewhere in the brucemail, the brucemailler must ask for some kind of advice. For example: “Are ants in Connecticut supposed to have wings?”
3) Also in a brucemail, there must be a request for something from the Papa himself. For example: “Do you have the number for crane rental?”
4) All calls must be polite and end with a friendly goodbye as follows: “Thanks! (insert farewell of your choice here) Talk to you soon!

Here is an example of a perfectly-constructed brucemail:

“Hey, Bruce. Just checkin’ in…
Does Fairfield County have regulations on exotic imports?
P.S. the only leashes I could find are for the lapsapoos – anything bigger?
Thanks! Cuddles! Talk to you soon!”

Now the power is yours. Use it wisely, playhouse staff.

Amy.