About the Randy Owen Center
Randy Owen Center for the Performing Arts
The Randy Owen Center for the Performing Arts (ROC) is a transformational investment in the future of Jacksonville State University and the arts in Northeast Alabama. Designed to inspire creativity, foster collaboration, and provide world-class educational and performance opportunities, the ROC will be a home for Jax State students and a destination for audiences throughout the region.
Named in honor of Jacksonville State alumnus and Alabama lead singer Randy Owen, the ROC celebrates his contributions to the arts and society while creating opportunities for future generations.
The $41.3 million project combines state-of-the-art new construction with the adaptive renovation of the former First Baptist Church of Jacksonville property, which the University officially acquired in 2023. The project included a $15 million appropriation from Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama State Legislature.
Located at the corner of Church Street and Roebuck Waters Drive, the ROC encompasses more than 100,000 square feet of performance, educational, rehearsal, recording, and collaborative space.
A Home for Creativity
At the heart of the ROC is the 1,001-seat Phil and Denise Webb Concert Hall, complemented by the Pi Kappa Phi Lobby. The professional-caliber concert hall gives Jax State students valuable opportunities to learn and perform in a space designed to mirror the environments they will encounter throughout their careers.
The venue will host:
- Concerts and theatrical productions
- Lectures and educational programs
- University ceremonies and events
- Community performances and gatherings
The Educational Wing
The ROC Educational Wing transforms approximately 50,950 square feet of existing space into a dynamic center for creativity, collaboration, and innovation.
The Educational Wing was intentionally designed to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and experiential learning. Students in music, theatre, dance, film, graphic design, creative writing, communications, and other disciplines will have opportunities to create and collaborate in spaces modeled after real-world creative environments.
The space includes:
- Recital hall
- Rehearsal hall
- Backstage artist suites
- Recording studio
- Educational classrooms
- Faculty offices and studio spaces
- JSU Music Academy
- Creative cooperative workspaces
- Meeting and event spaces
Inspiring the Next Generation
The ROC will inspire a love of the arts among Jax State students while providing opportunities for lifelong learners to develop their passions.
Through the Jax State Music Academy, community programming, and public events, the ROC will welcome children, families, educators, performers, and audiences from across Northeast Alabama.
More than a performing arts venue, the ROC will be a place where people learn, create, collaborate, perform, and experience the transformative power of the arts.
Leave Your Legacy
The ROC offers individuals, families, businesses, and organizations the opportunity to create a lasting legacy at Jacksonville State University and support the future of the arts.
Your support can help ensure that the ROC continues to inspire students, artists, performers, and audiences for generations to come.
Support the ROC
To learn more about naming opportunities or ways to support the Randy Owen Center for the Performing Arts, contact Joseph Munster, Senior Philanthropy Officer, at jmunster@jsu.edu or 256-782-8261.