The Tom Franke Gala is an annual fundraiser event for The Franke Center For The Arts. Join your fellow supporters of the arts for a magical night of music, entertainment, food and drinks benefitting The Franke Center–all in memory of one of The Franke Center’s founders and champions, Tom Franke.
The Gala is a two-part event. The first part is a mixer with dinner, special cocktails, a silent auction, and live entertainment in the Franke Center’s Downstage Club.
The second part will be a mainstage performance by Tapestry – The Carole King Songbook. You can purchase a ticket that includes both parts of the event, or choose only the gala dinner or only the mainstage concert–the choice is yours!
THE FRANKE DOWNSTAGE CLUB – 5:30PM
The Gala
Join us for a special evening for Franke Center supporters!
The night will include:
- A delicious catered dinner buffet from 2020 Bistro featuring: beef brisket, Tuscan chicken, parmesan roasted redskin potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, salad, rolls, and dessert
- A silent auction with dozens of fantastic items available
- A special musical performance by Youth Theater alum Grant Rupp
We’ll also reflect on a fantastic 2025-2026 season, announce our next season, and honor a few special individuals. All proceeds from the night will go to benefit Franke Center programming.
Gala musical PERFORMER
Grant Rupp
Grant Rupp is a 4th year Jazz Piano Performance student at Western Michigan University. Originally from Marshall Michigan, his musical journey truly began here in Kalamazoo. In his time at WMU he has performed with The University Jazz Orchestra, Gold Company, and the WMU Advanced Jazz Ensemble as well as travelled with such groups to performance opportunities in places like New Orleans! Outside of Western he has played piano for local artists spanning across genres such as pop, rock, rap, hip-hop, and R&B. He has also explored teaching music working as a drumline instructor for his hometown high school, music directing and assistant music directing many musical theater productions, and is acting president of WMU’s branch of United Sound, a national organization that helps students from WMU Disability Services to learn and play instruments! Grant wants to lastly thank the Franke Center for being one of the most crucial pieces of his creative development. Enjoy the Show!
Mainstage – 8pm
Tapestry – The Carole King Songbook
This immersive show recreates the sound and vibe of a 1970’s Carole King concert experience following her legendary album, Tapestry. You will love hearing the timeless music behind the iconic image of her 1971 multiple Grammy winning
album.
Suzanne delivers a ‘docu-concert’ style presentation that includes comedy, entertaining stories, and multi-media to enhance this celebrated music. Suzanne O Davis and her world-class band perform the complete ‘Tapestry’ album, and bring to life many hits featured in the Broadway smash, ‘Beautiful’, featuring songs that Carole and her husband, Gerry Goffin, wrote in the 1960s. Together, they composed more than 400 songs recorded by artists such as The Drifters, The Beatles, Herman’s Hermits, Donnie Osmond, Aretha Franklin, The Shirelles, Bobby Vee, and the list goes on…
