The East Arkansas Community College Foundation has announced the naming of the Fine Arts Center Auditorium’s Orchestra Pit
May 11, 2010
East Arkansas Community College-Forrest City
Press Release-Photo Attached
The East Arkansas Community College Foundation has announced the naming of the Fine Arts Center Auditorium’s Orchestra Pit. The facility, located on the campus of East Arkansas Community College, opened in April.
The donation to the EACC Foundation was made by Oral Edwards of Forrest City, his son Steve and wife Laura Edwards of Marianna, and his daughter Susan DeRossitt and her husband Dr. Jim DeRossitt of Memphis, Tennessee. “It is now officially recognized as the Edwards-DeRossitt Orchestra Pit,” said Dr. Coy Grace, EACC President. The recessed area located front and center stage accommodates 25+ musicians and contributes to the building’s Class A designation.
“The Edwards and DeRossitts have been longtime supporters of EACC and its mission,” said Dr. Grace. “Oral Edwards has served on the EACC Board of Trustees since 1995 and has played an integral role in procuring backing for this project and many other projects by the College and the EACC Foundation. This naming opportunity will be a lasting tribute recognizing this family’s support of the arts, this institution and the Arkansas Delta. The naming of the Edwards-DeRossitt Orchestra Pit continues the mission of the College and the EACC Foundation and is a tangible reminder of how supporters of the arts can get involved,” said Grace. “The generosity of this gift and the enduring assistance from these families will benefit the citizens of eastern Arkansas in so many ways. This area now has one of the finest facilities in this state and the Edwards and DeRossitts have been a part of this from the beginning.”
The East Arkansas Community College Fine Arts Center includes an Auditorium that seats 1,100, a state-of-the-art Stage, Ticket Office, Orchestra Pit, a Black Box Theatre, a Banquet Hall, and a Gallery for art exhibitions. The building, considered a ‘Class A’ performance center, was designed with ‘flexible seating options’ to accommodate many different seating and table configurations and is able to host many different kinds of events.
Photo (from left) Members of the Edwards and DeRossitt families
Front row: Ashley Edwards Rowton, Oral Edwards, Steve Edwards
2nd row: Leigh Edwards Nance, Susan Edwards DeRossitt, Laura Edwards
3rd row: Frank DeRossitt, John DeRossitt, and Steve Edwards, Jr.
Back row: Dr. Jim DeRossitt, Coe Nance, Paul Rowton