Nijeul X, who was hired to usher in a new era for the Forest Theater, departed after less than a year as the venue’s director. The historic space is expected to have a grand opening in November.
X, the executive and artistic director, was expected to guide future operations at the venue, which is undergoing a roughly $80 million revitalization. He was introduced by Forest Forward, the nonprofit leading the theater’s renovations, during a community meeting in August.
“Last month, Forest Theater made a leadership change,” a statement from the Forest Theater said. “Our work continues with an unchanged focus: to reimagine how the Forest Theater can support culture, connection and economic opportunity for future generations.”
Jiles R. King II will serve as the interim artistic director. King has partnered with Forest Forward since its inception and has “deep roots in Dallas arts and culture,” the statement said. It’s unclear what led to X’s departure. He could not be reached for comment.
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Forest Forward hopes to position the theater, off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, as a national destination and hub for arts and community.
Nijeul X, former executive and artistic director of the Forest Theater, looks out the window of the Forest Forward building at the theater, still under constructions across the street, on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, in South Dallas. X departed his role last month, according to the Forest Theater.
Angela Piazza / Staff Photographer
X had said he hoped to build an “artistic home” for local talent, drawn by Forest Forward’s mission to revitalize the neighborhood.
The theater, built by Karl Hoblitzelle in 1949, has been an anchor for the South Dallas community. It was a hub for Black audiences and has featured acts including Tina Turner, B.B. King and Dallas’ own Erykah Badu.
Though the theater has gone through several iterations over the years, it sat unused from 2009 until it was acquired in 2017. Forest Forward broke ground in 2024.
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When the space reopens, it is expected to host performances and invite visitors to take in a rooftop view of the city. An additional 35,000 square feet is to be added, with the venue including a 1,000-seat concert hall, another studio space with 200 retractable seats, a variety of studio spaces, a media lab and a cafe.
This reporting is part of the Future of North Texas, a community-funded journalism initiative supported by the Commit Partnership, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, the Dallas Mavericks, the Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Lisa and Charles Siegel, the McCune-Losinger Family Fund, The Meadows Foundation, the Perot Foundation, the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the University of Texas at Dallas. The News retains full editorial control of this coverage.