Dallas’ Historic Forest Theater Celebrates Its Reopening With Iconic Tower Lighting and Surprise Erykah Badu Performance

After nearly two decades of closure, Dallas’ 77-year-old Forest Theater recently completed an $83 million renovation and expansion and officially reopened at 1920 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Forest Forward, a non-profit organization that partners with the community to drive equitable development, economic mobility, and improve outcomes for children, residents, and families of the South Dallas community, spearheaded the ambitious project.

Just a couple of days ago, the historic theater’s iconic tower, which remained dark for more than 50 years, was relit. Community members celebrated the reopening with The Grand Return — featuring a surprise homecoming performance by former lessee and Grammy Award-winning singer Erykah Badu.

First, a little about Forest Theater’s history. Built by Karl Hoblitzelle in 1949, Forest Theater first debuted as a movie house and gathering place serving South Dallas’ Jewish community. As demographics changed around 1956, the theater began serving the neighborhood’s growing Black community. Then, in the 1970s, the theater transformed into a live entertainment and nightlife venue called The Central Forest Club, hosting stars like Tina Turner, B.B. King, Gladys Knight, and Wilson Pickett.

As briefly mentioned above, South Dallas native Erykah Badu operated the property from 2002 through 2008, bringing artists as big as Prince, Snoop Dogg, and Dave Chappelle to the temporarily renamed Black Forest Theater. Before that, her grandfather owned the Green Parrot restaurant and jazz lounge, which was formerly located in the theater’s adjoining strip center. After Badu experienced some financial struggles with the theater, it closed down again and sat dark and dilapidated for another decade.

Inside the $83 Million Renovation and Expansion

In 2017, Forest Forward got involved, led by President & CEO Elizabeth Wattley, sparking a new effort to bring the theater back to life. And nine years later, it’s been accomplished. The historic 33,000-square-foot Forest Theater has been transformed into a 66,000-square-foot modern cultural landmark and campus. Highlights of the renovation include:

• A 1,000-seat main concert hall — the main theater was completely rebuilt as a flexible performance hall designed for live music concerts, plays, comedy shows, and dance performances
• A new secondary studio space, a 200-seat black-box theater
• A 13,000-square-foot Creative Education Lab for local youth and community workforce training workshops
• Recording & podcast studios
• Rooftop gathering space
• A new outdoor gathering space and “Vendor Village” plaza
• South Dallas’ first Starbucks

The Grand Return of Forest Theater

At the recent Grand Return opening party, around 2,500 community members, civic leaders, and special guests showed up dressed in all black to celebrate the rebirth of the iconic Dallas landmark.

“So many of us have imagined this moment for so long. So many of us have drove by the Forest Theater and imagined the possibilities for this neighborhood, if the theater could come back to life. Tonight, together, we make history,” said Wattley. “You know, when we think about making history, we often think about one person, one extraordinary leader, one defining moment, but I would argue that it takes many to make history that was resound through generations.”

Guests enjoyed food trucks, local businesses in the Vendor Village, opportunities to explore the restored theater, and live entertainment by Grammy Award-winning gospel singer Tamela Mann, local rapper Big Tuck, rising hip-hop artist Da’Raja Superstar, and Erykah Badu — who delivered a multi-song performance beneath the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard street sign.

“Right down the street at Martin Luther King and Pennsylvania down here, I grew up in the Martin Luther King recreation center,” said Badu. “At that recreation center we got to travel all over the world without leaving the gymnasium. They brought art programs, theater programs, music programs, African dance, African language even, Harambee, right down the street. That’s how I learned what I know today. I have South Dallas to thank for it. This is my home right here, this geographical space right here. I feel the most comfortable here. I’ll never leave Dallas.”

Upcoming Programming

Following the big night, Forest Theater is launching several arts, entertainment, and community events starting today, with a guided Art Walk Tour showcasing works by local and national artists. Additional programming this month includes Venue Tours, Beats Under the Stars rooftop DJ parties, and the SZN’s Change Music Video Film Festival (November 21). In December, there will be a Winter in Color activation starting on the first, a screening of Unexpected Christmas with a cast talkback with Lil Rel and more (December 3), Rise Weekend presented by The Creative Mind LA (December 5), Soulful Murder Mystery’s Christmas-themed dinner theater experience (December 12 and 13), and MLK Arts Academy’s winter production of Willy Wonka Jr. (December 17 and 18).

Find more info about upcoming events at Forest Theater here.