MOBILE, Ala. — Faced with the realities of living in the present, why bury your head under your pillow when you can just as easily step back in time for a night? Alabama Public Television (APT) is bringing original doo wop stars to the Saenger Theatre in Mobile for a concert on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 8 p.m.

Doo Wop Live, a fundraiser for APT’s educational mission, will star Gene Chandler (“Duke of Earl”); The Drifters, featuring Charlie Thomas (“Under the Boardwalk and “There Goes My Baby”); The Crystals, (“And Then He Kissed Me”); Larry Chance of The Earls (“Life Is But A Dream”) and The Toys, featuring Barbara Harris (“A Lover’s Concerto”).

APT Executive Director Allan Pizzato (yes, he has trouble ordering pizza over the phone) said Monday a similar concert staged last year in Birmingham had audience members dancing in the aisles, and it raised a lot of money. That’s why he and others at APT decided to bring the party to the coast.

Pizzato noted APT was created by the State Legislature in 1953 as America’s first statewide educational television network. Today, it is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian — children and adults alike — through online services, analog and digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. It is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System (PBS).

“Most people see us as a broadcaster, and enjoy the programming we bring, but we’re educators using television and new technology for education,” he said. “We’re Alabama’s storytellers, and we’re doing a lot of stuff now on the Internet. We’re there to provide a service.”

Seventy-nine percent of Alabama’s teachers have accounts for, and log on, APT Plus, an innovative online instructional resource center started with a national grant three years ago. It has become a model for other states, and includes downloadable video clips for classroom use and professional development training for teachers.

Pizzato said, “We do more in the classroom than we’ve ever done.”

APT has won 11 Southeast Regional Emmys over the past three years for its television programming focusing on Alabama issues and topics. Pizzato added more might be coming because, “There’s never going to be a shortage of stories in this state.”

There might be a shortage of money though. This month marks the beginning of one of the tightest fiscal years in APT history, he said, because it received a “healthy cut in funding from the state.” Pizzato said the concert, which sprung from a series of four Doo Wop specials produced and broadcast by PBS, will be the first step in making up the difference.

The next on-air APT pledge drive won’t begin until Nov. 29, and will last nine days through the first week in December. Pizzato said, “About one of every 10 people who watch us actually financially support us. It makes it tough. I would like to double that.”

Although many are proud APT supporters, it might have been three years since some made a donation, he pointed out. Others, however, have been pledging consistently for 12 years or more.

The average donation to APT is around $82. Pizzato said, “We appreciate people supporting us financially because it means they support our programs.”

As an added bonus for those supporting APT by attending the concert, four Mobile Opera performers will unbutton their collars and take the stage as The Tom Toms, singing backup for Chandler.

Nicholas Brownlee, baritone, is currently a vocal performance major at the University of South Alabama, where he studies voice with Dr. Thomas Rowell. Brownlee is a member of the Mobile Developing Artist Program, and has performed regularly with the company since his collegiate musical career began. Most recently, he appeared in Mobile Opera’s production of “Andrea Chenier” as Dumas.

Stacey B. Driskell is a Mobile actress, singer and pianist. She is active in the area performing arts community, having performed with the Joe Jefferson Playhouse, Jitterbug Theatre, Mobile Theatre Guild, Mobile Symphony and Mobile Opera. Driskell presently serves as director of education and community outreach for Mobile Opera, and is on the executive board of the Joe Jefferson Players.

Dr. Thomas Rowell is assistant professor of music at the University of South Alabama, where he serves as coordinator of vocal studies and director of opera theater. Rowell also serves as the chorus master for Mobile Opera in addition to having performed numerous operatic roles with the company. This season, he will sing the role of Arturo in “Lucia de Lammermoor” and Elder Hayes in “Susannah.” Rowell is very active in the Mobile and Gulf Coast arts communities, having performed with Mobile Pops Band, Baldwin Pops, Joe Jefferson Playhouse, Music Sacra and Pensacola Opera.

Lee Smith is currently a vocal performance and music business major at the University of South Alabama. He auditioned and was selected to sing the National Anthem at the 2006 Senior Bowl. Smith made his debut with the Mobile Opera in 2006, and was also selected to be a part of their developing artist program. He donates his time and talent to many charitable organizations. Smith began his singing career as a member of Mobile’s Singing Children.

Tickets for the Saturday evening Doo Wop Live performance are $75, $60, $50 and $25 each, and are available through the Saenger box office at (251) 208-5600.