Melbourne's King Center celebrates 35 years during an evening with Earth, Wind & Fire

The elements favor Melbourne's King Center.

What started in 1988 with "Singin' in the Rain" continues three and a half decades later with Earth, Wind & Fire.

Brevard County is invited to celebrate the performing center's 35th anniversary by spending an evening with the legendary band at a fundraising event set for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15.

"We're fortunate in Brevard County to have a performing arts center," said Darcia Jones Francey, who is chairing the event. "The more community support it gets, the more the King Center is able to grow."

The money raised will be used to ensure the King Center is part of the community for the next 35 years and beyond.

A renovation of the facility is underway that includes improvements to the rotunda. A full kitchen is being added, which will make it easier to support shows in the main L3Harris Technologies Theatre as well as the 300-seat Studio Theatre. It also will bring expanded opportunities for business meetings, weddings and other events.

A $4 million renovation was completed in late 2021. That work, which marked the first major rehab since the facility opened, included changing the look and function of the front entrance and main lobby, as well as replacing the aging heating, cooling and ventilation system.

Francey was at that touring show of "Singin' in the Rain" on April 10, 1988, and she remains a regular patron of the venue on the Melbourne campus of Eastern Florida State College.

Over the years, she's enjoyed comedians, Classic Albums Live concerts and touring Broadway shows.

"I've seen so many, I don't know if I have a favorite," she said, "though one of the coolest concerts was Alice Cooper. He gave a great performance."

Francey, who also serves on the King Center Board of Directors, is looking forward to adding Earth, Wind & Fire to the list of shows she's seen at the venue.

The show, which is being made possible by benefactors Nancy and Jack Dwyer, is a rare opportunity to see a renowned group up close and personal, said Bob Papke, ASM Global theaters vice president and King Center general manager.

"They're playing arenas everywhere else," he said of the band with a sound that encompasses R&B, soul, funk and Afro-pop. "They're playing the King Center here, and that's pretty special."

Even at the back of the 2,016-seat auditorium, concert-goers will be able to see the musicians without watching on a Jumbotron.

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Papke hopes the fundraiser will bring in more than six figures to help keep the King Center a strong force on the local arts scene.

General admission tickets start at $75.

Sponsorships ranging from $250 to $2,000 come with perks including preferred parking and admission to a pre-show party on the patio and post-show dessert in the rotunda.

Since July 2020, the King Center, which is owned by EFSC, has been managed by ASM Global, which operates hundreds of stadiums, convention centers and arenas around the world. Last year, the schedule included 158 events, including those in the Studio Theatre.

"It's a fun place to be, whether it's a ballet or symphony concert or a classic rock performance," Francey said. "We're lucky to have it."

For more information about the fundraising concert and to purchase tickets and sponsorships, visit kingcenter.com.

Suzy Fleming Leonard is a features journalist with more than three decades of experience. Reach her at sleonard@floridatoday.com. Find her on Facebook: @SuzyFlemingLeonard or on Instagram: @SuzyLeonard. 

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: The right elements: Earth, Wind & Fire star in King Center fundraiser