Dr. Warren Woodruff & Angelica Hale featured on ATl & Co.'s Proud Parent Show!

Dr. Warren Woodruff with a performance from singing America's Got Talent sensation 9-year-old Angelica Hale on Proud Parent with Christine Pullara Newton!

Angelica sang "The Hills are Alive" from the Sound of Music to the piano accompaniment by Dr. Warren Woodruff.




Performance produced and directed by Lynn Stallings Of the Atlanta Workshop Players and Dr. Warren Woodruff, inspired by Dr. Fuddle and The Gold Baton.

Dr. Fuddle And The Gold Baton

PRELUDE

High on his cloud-shrouded tower upon a desolate mountaintop stood a royal-looking figure faintly lit by the crescent moon. But a king this was not. His menacing shadow paced, and his black cape billowed, affording an occasional glimpse of a bony wing amidst the folds of red satin lining. He peered out over the mountains and valleys, relishing the sight of darkness over the land.

A small musical sound caught his attention behind him, causing him to turn and step inside his chambers. He stopped at an antique table holding a large carillons á musique, his treasured nineteenth-century music box. But this was no ordinary music box. His bony fingers caressed the ebony roses gilding the mechanical instrument. When he lifted the ornate cover, the box played an eerie metallic tune. A smoke-like mist rose from its mirrored interior. He stared at the waves of sounds forming images before him until a moving picture came into focus:

A young blonde boy with blue eyes walked down a street lined with oak trees. The boy bounded up the steps into his New England Colonial home. The house was alight with music and happiness as the boy's mother played the piano and his young sister listened joyfully. Their reserved father sat in his favorite chair reading the newspaper.

"Isn't that sweet?" mocked the dark one. "But why are you being shown to me?" Two others stood in the shadows behind him viewing the images, not daring to say a word.

The waves of sound contracted. The picture changed. The colonial home had grown dark and the music had stopped. Upstairs in the master bedroom, the boy was sitting in a chair beside his mother’s bed, his head buried in the crook of his arm, and clasping her limp hand in his. In the doorway, the little sister clung to their father.

"Ah, so sad, so sad," said the cloaked one in a whisper, studying the boy with interest. "But again, why you?"

The boy turned as if he could hear the question from far, far away. Without warning, a blazing light radiated from the music box, sending the dark one reeling. He clutched his chest and struggled to close the lid and shut in the light. His voice turned ominous, "Now I see...I see... You are the one I must watch out for."

MEET CHRISTINA

This music he knew very well. It was the special Beethoven tune his mother had always played for his mute little sister, Christina. He loved how much she enjoyed music, but it wasn't for him.

Their mother was a highly respected piano teacher throughout her lifetime. So many people, usually grown-ups, had exclaimed, “How fortunate you are to have such a wonderful music instructor in your very own house,” knowing full well he didn’t take piano lessons. He didn’t know why he'd resisted music lessons all these years, he just had. He was thankful his mother hadn’t forced him, like so many parents did. Like his friend Kathy’s mom. Kathy would drag over to his house for her lessons. He could tell her heart wasn’t in it and it showed in her mechanical playing. But she put on the image of “culture” the way she put on her designer clothes.

Tyler really didn't want to get closer to that mansion. But the tune sounded so peppy and full of energy, like a little dog chasing its tail, so nostalgic, that it seemed to be calling to him.Hearing it filled his mind with so many memories. He thought of how Christina danced to that music and how their mother always promised she'd teach her how to play some day when she was a little older.

Unfortunately that day never came. For the last two years Tyler and Christina lived with only their stern father, the Honorable Judge Harrington, and the live-in nanny.

Tyler was finally learning to accept his family's new situation, but he could never forget the last night with his mother before she passed on.

She had had a dark vision of impending destruction which terrified her, but hope lingered in her eyes when she spoke. “Tyler,dear, someday you'll be doing something very important for me—something wonderful for Christina and for yourself. I'll send you a clear sign when it's time. A great teacher will guide you.”

Tyler had clung to that hope, looking high and low for the sign, but two years had passed and nothing remarkable had happened.He was beginning to lose faith.

Until now.

MEET LEONARD

Kathy and Leonard were two of Tyler's closest friends, too, but he'd really not wanted to include them this time. He knew they'd never believe him about what he'd seen and heard the night before.

"I don't know," Antonio said. "You looked like there was something exciting going on and I thought they'd want in on whatever it is. We’ve always done everything together."

Kathy and Leonard walked up, greeting their friends. Both looked older than their thirteen years. Kathy Goldman was attractive with auburn hair, brown eyes, fine features and had style to burn, always sporting the latest trendy clothes and glasses. Her mother owned an exclusive ladies’ clothing boutique and her father was a prominent surgeon.

Leonard Lang, son of a renowned award-winning biochemist from China, was super intelligent, programmed with his father’s genes that demanded scientific proof of all things. Offbeat, he sensed there was more to Kathy than her obsession with fashion and he admired her technical proficiency on the piano. He had always thought he might like to give music a try. The mathematical precision of it piqued his curiosity; but he just hadn’t found the time with all his science fairs and clubs. "So what's the urgency?" Leonard asked, with a hint of condescension.

"Just come on," Tyler answered, leading them up the street.

Kathy followed, thinking how Tyler needed to rid himself of his preppy image, maybe grow his blonde hair a little longer.

Tyler halted when they stood directly across from the mansion.

"Why are we stopping here?" Kathy asked, staring at the imposing structure set back from the street up on its hill.

The mansion loomed above them with its dozens of arched stained glass windows, topped by a stately cupola jutting eighty feet from the ground. Dark clouds had gathered behind it.

"I thought you avoided this block like the plague!" Leonard said.

"That was before. I've always had a strange feeling about this place, like it was haunted, but now I know. Come on," Tyler ordered. “The coast is clear! Follow me.”

MEET KATHY

“I think we should see if there's away in," Antonio said, walking over to stand beside Tyler, who shuddered at the thought of entering the dark manor.
"Are you out of your mind? We can't go in there. That's criminal trespassing!"
Kathy reprimanded. "Besides, I heard there was a murder in there a long time ago."
"That's just a rumor," Leonard replied.
"Maybe there're a few ghosts having a party in there besides Mrs. Harrington,"Antonio added, just to annoy Kathy. “No disrespect intended, Tyler.”
“Well,as a matter of fact,” Tyler began, “now that you mention it...”
“Oh great!” Kathy said. “Now you're going to tell us you've seen ghosts, too?”
“I did," Tyler said, getting up enough nerve to tell the rest of his story. "I saw a man sitting at a grand piano playing mom's piece. And I could see through him. But there were others, too, dressed from a long time ago, really old-fashioned.”
“I’m out of here!!” Kathy screamed, making a beeline for the driveway.
Leonard went after her and ushered her back to the others.
She liked his arm around her shoulders.
“Stop worrying,Kathy," he said. "Besides there won't be a way to get in. And even if there is, let’s check it out. I want to prove to everyone once and for all there’s no such thing as ghosts."
The gathering clouds hovered thicker and blacker above the deserted street. The friends followed Tyler and Antonio around the corner up onto the back porch. "No one will ever know we're doing this except us," Tyler said. He shivered, thinking of the hundreds of old stories about this mansion--the kinds of stories grandmothers told from their front porches on dark summer nights when there was nothing else to do. But of course, he didn’t let on to the others about his fears.
Antonio tried to open the back door, but it was locked.
“Okay, see?” Kathy said. “Time to go home.”
Then a strong gust of wind blew and they all heard it clearly. Though just a tiny click, it seemed like an explosion. Antonio tried the ornate door knob once again and this time found the door was unlocked.
“Hey, it opened—just for us. Let’s go in,” Tyler said, making a move.
"Are you crazy?" Kathy said. "Some derelict could be camping out in there waiting to kill us! Let's get out of here!"

MEET ANTONIO

Tyler could see Antonio standing outside down the block, near an open garage. They shared the exact same birthday and felt like non-identical twins, except his Latin friend looked much older than he did. Compared to Tyler, Antonio was athletically built. The party always started when Antonio arrived with his striking good looks and ready-for-anything attitude. Lately, though, he was going through a rebellious, spiked hair stage and hanging out with guys very unlike Tyler. This was exactly what he was doing at that moment.

As Tyler and Christina approached, Christina covered her ears. The sound of raucous behavior and dissonant music upset her. Tyler grasped her hand. He already regretted bringing her here.

"Hey, Antonio, what’s up?" Tyler asked. The music stopped. Several boys snickered at the sight of the conservative boy and his little sister.

Antonio joined Tyler and Christina. "Hey, Tyler!" he said. "I didn't expect to see you here!"

"Tell them to get lost," a rough voice yelled.

"Knock it off," Antonio said. "They’re my friends."

Tyler appreciated Antonio’s sticking up for them, knowing it wasn’t the easy thing to do. But he didn’t understand why Antonio wanted to hang out with these guys, especially since they seemed to be getting meaner lately. They didn’t used to be, but they were turning into bullies. A couple of them had even been suspended from school.

"It's happened!" Tyler said.

"What’s happened?"

The biggest of the boys in the garage came out. He leered at Antonio and said in a fake sing-songy voice, "Why don't you just run along now and play with your little friends? Maybe you can play a game with the girlie who can't talk and her freaky little doll." The other boys laughed.

Tyler glared at them, picking Christina up and wiping away her tears.

"I told you to knock it off!" Antonio said in his face.

"You'll never be good enough to stay in our band anyway."

Antonio looked stricken.

"He’s better than you’ll ever be!” Tyler yelled. “Come on, Christina, don’t pay any attention to these jerks.” Before turning away he said to Antonio, “Will you meet us later?"

"Sure, just give me a few minutes," Antonio replied. "But what's this all about?"

"You'll find out soon enough.” Tyler lowered his voice. “Just meet us in thirty minutes at the corner of Oak and Willow."

[excerpt from Dr. Fuddle and the Gold Baton]