The latest Raymond James Pops Concert brought to Bay area audiences by The Florida Orchestra is "Stay Tuned" starring Five by Design. The Minneapolis-based five-member vocal ensemble presents a TFO-backed program that pays homage to the early days of television, when Dinah Shore, Perry Como and Milton Berle filled the small screen with their variety show antics. Guest conductor Willis Delony leads the ensemble through song selections like “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” “Mr. Sandman,” “The Girl from Ipanema,” “Smile,” “Instanbul (Not Constantinople),” “Papa Love Mambo,” “New York, New York” and several others. The quintet also performs commercial jingles, TV theme songs, skits and comedy bits culled directly from the 1950's. Jan. 2-5: 8 p.m. Fri., Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa; 8 p.m. Sat., Progress Energy Center for the Arts-Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg; and Mon., Jan. 5, 7:30 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 N. McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. Tickets are $19-$65; for more info, call 727-892-3331 or visit floridaorchestra.com or fivebydesign.com.
This article appears in Dec 24-30, 2008.