Tom Franke Gala returns May 30 with Carole King tribute
Tom Franke Gala returns May 30 with Carole King tribute
Dave DeMille, Battle Creek EnquirerTue, May 5, 2026 at 8:46 AM UTC
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The Franke Center for the Arts will host its fourth annual Tom Franke Gala on May 30, featuring live music, dinner and a silent auction, according to a community announcement.
The two‑part fundraising event will benefit The Franke Center for the Arts and celebrate the organization’s 2025‑26 season while honoring the legacy of former board chair Tom Franke. The evening includes performances by Tapestry: The Carole King Songbook and Franke Center Youth Theater alum Grant Rupp.
Dinner, youth performance and silent auction
The gala begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Franke Center’s Downstage Club with a catered dinner provided by 20/20 Bistro. Guests will also enjoy a concert by Rupp, a Marshall native and fourth‑year jazz piano performance student at Western Michigan University.
Rupp has performed with several WMU ensembles, including the University Jazz Orchestra and the Advanced Jazz Ensemble, and currently serves as acting president of the university’s chapter of United Sound, a national organization that supports students with disabilities in learning and playing musical instruments, according to the announcement.
A silent auction will run throughout the gala portion of the evening, featuring donated items from local businesses such as sports tickets, artwork, dining experiences and hotel stays.
Carole King tribute caps the night
A Carole King tribute and youth performance headline the Tom Franke Gala in Marshall on May 30. The performance stars Suzanne O Davis and her band, who present the full album along with additional hits written by King and her longtime songwriting partner, Gerry Goffin.
The second half of the event begins at 8 p.m. with a mainstage concert by Tapestry: The Carole King Songbook. The show recreates the sound and atmosphere of a 1970s Carole King concert, centered on her 1971 album "Tapestry."
The performance stars Suzanne O Davis and her band, who present the full album along with additional hits written by King and her longtime songwriting partner, Gerry Goffin. Their work includes songs recorded by artists such as The Beatles, Aretha Franklin and The Drifters.
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Guests may purchase tickets for the full evening or attend only the gala dinner or the concert.
“It’s a chance to enjoy some great food, good company, and wonderful music,” Franke Center Executive Director Jacob Gates said. “We’ll celebrate the legacy of our former board chair, Tom Franke, and raise funds to support our expanded Youth Theater programming.”
Tickets are available at TheFranke.org or by calling 269‑781‑0001.
Programming at the Franke Center is supported in part by the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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This story was created by Dave DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: What to know about the Tom Franke Gala at the Franke Center in Marshall
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