De QUEEN, Ark.—Collaboration for an amphitheater project is taking center stage as the city and a community college join forces to enrich the area.

An enthusiastic crowd braved hot sun and sweat recently to kick off the groundbreaking of the new community amphitheater at the Truck Driving Range of Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas.

But while the groundbreaking was an event in itself, it was the effort behind the project that took center stage.

“The significant aspect of this is that it was a town-and-gown collaborative,” said Frank Ada...