Renovations take place at the Forest Theater in Dallas on Dec. 27, 2024. The historic space is expected to have a grand opening in November.
Azul Sordo/Staff Photographer
Dallas’ historic Forest Theater is getting closer to opening and new details around the opening festivities have been released.
The theater, set to open in the fall, has garnered millions in funding for renovations. For years, neighbors in South Dallas have watched the construction along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard for the closed site.
In November, the venue is supposed to reopen with plenty of amenities and rentable space, according to the website for Forest Forward, the nonprofit leading the theater’s revitalization. The group recently released details around its tower-lighting ceremony.
Article continues below this ad
For the first time in more than half a century, the theater’s iconic tower is expected to light up this year. Here’s what to know about The Grand Return, a celebration marking the beginning of a new era.
When will the Forest Theater reopen?
The opening celebration is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1.
Visitors are asked to “wear your best version of black.” More details will become available as the festivities get closer, according to Forest Forward.
Registration information for the event can be found at forestforward.org.
What will the Forest Theater celebration be like?
The celebration will ring in the theater’s return while also paying homage to its deep history. Visitors will see live entertainment, music and other activities, along with several food options and vendors.
Article continues below this ad
The event will span both indoor and outdoor areas of the theater, and organizers are already encouraging guests to dress comfortably and check weather before attending.
What’s coming to the Forest Theater?
Forest Forward has been working to position the theater as a national destination and hub for arts and community. For all its past uses, the venue is being reimagined as a space that showcases local talent and fosters economic opportunity in South Dallas.
A speakeasy-style coffee shop is expected to serve Starbucks drinks, which would be a first for the South Dallas area where the theater sits. It’ll have a rooftop bar and outdoor areas.
Related: Forest Theater gets $8M in tax credits ahead of fall opening in Dallas City Council vote
Article continues below this ad
The venue is expected to host more than 100 events a year, adding performance spaces that include a 1,000-seat concert hall, along with several studios and a media lab. It’s expected to be used by students at the nearby Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Arts Academy.
What’s the history behind the Forest Theater?
The Forest Theater has served as a hub for the South Dallas community and Black audiences over the decades. It has featured acts including Tina Turner, B.B. King and Dallas’ own Erykah Badu.
Over the years, the site has been a nightclub, a synagogue, church and movie theater. It has served as an anchor to the community with voter registration, Girl Scout meetings and employment opportunities.
The venue was built by Karl Hoblitzelle in 1949. Hoblitzelle is responsible for similar theater spaces in Dallas, including the Majestic Theater downtown. The city’s landmark designation process for the theater began in 2015.
Article continues below this ad
Who’s behind the Forest Theater revitalization?
Forest Forward acquired the venue in 2017 after it had remained vacant for about 15 years. Before it became a landmark or was acquired, the site was slated to become a QuikTrip gas station.
Forest Forward has been overseeing the revitalization and fundraising for the Forest Theater. It’s had millions of dollars in support approved by city leaders, and has been working to reach an $80 million goal.
Elizabeth Wattley, president and CEO of the nonprofit, grew up in Oak Cliff’s Cedar Crest neighborhood, 3 miles southwest of the theater. She has said Forest Forward is not only focused on the theater, but on improving the quality of life in the neighborhood.
Article continues below this ad
The nonprofit has plans to be involved with mixed-income housing, walkable space and workforce development in the surrounding area. ZIP code 75215, where the theater is located, has some of Dallas County’s lowest life expectancies.
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.