South Dallas’ Forest Theater, shown in an undated photo, welcomed legendary performers such as Prince, B.B. King and Gladys Knight. [Photo: Forest Forward]
South Dallas’ historic Forest Theater is back in the spotlight following a $83 million restoration and expansion project.
A rendering of the newly renovated Forest Theater. [Image: Forest Forward]
A communitywide “homecoming” event this weekend, the Grand Return, will herald a new era for the theater, which initially opened 77 years ago. The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the theater, located at 1920 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. More than 2,500 attendees are expected.
The event is now at capacity, but people without tickets can join a waiting list.
The celebration will include live entertainment, a Vendor Village showcasing local businesses, food trucks and tours of the restored theater. The event will culminate with the ceremonial relighting of the theater’s iconic tower and marquee for the first time in more than 50 years.
Forest Forward, the South Dallas nonprofit that manages the theater, said the Grand Return represents “a defining moment” for its Light the Tower fundraising campaign.
Rekindling ‘greatest memories’
For generations, South Dallas residents gathered and celebrated at the theater, which shut down 18 years ago.
“People are so excited to be able to renew some of their greatest memories of spending time at the theater,” Elizabeth Wattley, CEO of Forest Forward, told Dallas Innovates.
Since opening in 1949, the theater has mirrored the evolution of South Dallas. The venue became one of Dallas’ top destinations for live entertainment, hosting legendary performers like Prince, B.B. King, Gladys Knight, Ike and Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett and South Dallas native Erykah Badu before closing in 2008.
Its reopening represents both the preservation of an important cultural institution and a significant investment in South Dallas.
‘Blood, sweat and tears’ restoration
Bringing the building back to life was no easy task.
Elizabeth Wattley is CEO of Forest Forward. [Photo: Forest Forward]
“It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears,” Wattley said, “and it was not a solo project. It required the coming together of all the right people from different areas across the city to see the value and importance of bringing Forest Theater back to life.”
“The project was a full gut, almost down to the studs, while keeping the historic features and getting historical approval for everything,” she said. “We had to do a lot of asbestos abatement and demolition to get it cleaned up.”
The newly expanded Forest Theater includes a 1,000-capacity concert hall, 200-seat black-box theater, 13,000-square-foot creative education lab, recording and podcast studios, rooftop gathering space, classrooms for artists and community meeting areas. Forest Forward recently opened a Starbucks that employs 11 people.
“We already have people who have never stopped in South Dallas stopping now to get coffee,” Wattley said. “The hope is more businesses will soon join Starbucks, bringing with them a new vibrancy to the Fair Park neighborhood.”
Forest Forward is working on a number of events, including art walks and a murder mystery event, to be held at the restored theater.
A South Dallas anchor
Forest Theater is the cultural anchor of Forest Forward’s broader neighborhood revitalization strategy.
The nonprofit focuses on community revitalization in South Dallas using the Purpose-Built Communities model, with the historic Forest Theater as the centerpiece. The organization wants the restoration and expansion of the Forest Theater to help nurture a healthy, thriving South Dallas.
“Our hope is that this project will attract businesses up and down the boulevard and bring resources to the area,” Wattley said. “We want to bring vibrancy and activity to the neighborhood. And we still need the support of everyone who has been engaged in this as we go forward, because this is just the beginning.”
R E A D N E X T
North Texas has plenty to see, hear, and watch. Here are our editors’ picks. Plus, you’ll find more selections to “save the date.”
Located at DFW’s Terminal A, the Bonton Farms retail store will introduce travelers to the nonprofit’s mission while selling local honey, handmade jams, goat milk soaps, grab-and-go food items, apparel and gifts. It is the organization’s first location outside South Dallas.
Watter’s first commercial installation offsets water-heating costs and creates a new revenue stream for the hotel.
The planned DFW network would link DFW Airport, Love Field, Frisco Station and four other area airports once Archer’s Midnight aircraft wins FAA certification. San Jose, California-based Archer aims to help commuters turn 60- to 90-minute drives into 10- to 20-minute flights.
The grant, awarded to UT Southwestern biotech spinoff MusiQ Bio, could pave the way for human clinical trials of the startup’s proprietary cancer-fighting platform within five years.
The venture capital firm plans to invest up to $1 billion each in roughly 10 growth- and late-stage companies, with a focus on AI, AI infrastructure and defense. Founder and CEO Alex Davis says the best private tech companies need more capital than ever.
Four years after arriving at Pegasus Park, the Boston-based accelerator is adding health and security accelerators and founder clinics, backed by a renewed two-year grant from Lyda Hill Philanthropies.
Flexcar says it’s disrupting a $110 billion industry “by providing customers a better alternative to car ownership.”
Set for Thursday, Oct. 22, the sixth annual venture capital and technology event connects investors, founders and innovators.
Through demos, webinars and ready-to-use prompts, Retail Ready tackles one real-world retail problem at a time — with no tech expertise required.