In South Dallas, the historic Forest Theater could be offering tours to community members by the end of this year as renovations give new life to the roughly 75-year-old space.
The theater’s exterior is expected to be complete by the end of the year, with the interior work continuing into next year. The theater’s renovations are expected to be mostly complete around May. A grand opening is anticipated for November 2026.
“While there have been understandable delays due to things like weather and material supply chains, we’re very much on track to open as expected,” said Elizabeth Wattley, president and CEO of Forest Forward, a nonprofit tasked with leading the theater’s restoration.
By the end of this year, Forest Forward plans to have hired a large portion of staff and they expect to host tours with residents ahead of opening to the public in 2026, Wattley said in a statement.
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Since breaking ground in April of last year, Forest Forward has been working within historic regulations to do work such as removing asbestos, which left a thatched roof.
“We’ll have substantial completion and construction,” Wattley said. “Then, we’re going to get ready. We’re going to work. We’re going to get used to the building, and then we’re going to have the grand opening.”
Wattley said the group is still fundraising to “bring the vision to life.” With $73 million raised for the renovations, Forest Forward is trying to get roughly $7 million more to fund amenities such as equipment for film screenings.
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The venue is expected to host performances and invite visitors to take in a rooftop view of the city. The site, expected to host over 140 events per year, includes a 28,000-square-foot expansion, city officials have said.
The theater is expected to be restored as a hub for the South Dallas community, part of a larger vision to showcase talent, foster economic opportunity and offer educational resources to an area affected by disinvestment, segregation and redlining. Plans for the area include mixed-income housing, walkable spaces and a partnership with nearby Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Arts Academy.
Historically, Forest Theater on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard was a hub for Black audiences and has featured acts including Tina Turner, B.B. King and Dallas’ own Erykah Badu. The site has been a nightclub, a synagogue, church and movie theater. It’s held voter registrations, Girl Scout meetings and employment opportunities.
Now, work is moving forward to involve residents in shaping the theater’s details.
At a community meeting in August, guests saw design inspiration for key areas and gave feedback about whether they were from the South Dallas Zip Code, 75215, how they found community and even what color curtains they preferred.
The curtain options included shades of red, blue and green. “Purple, really?” one guest asked.
A deep, velvety blueish sample — hyacinth — was leading in the votes.
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.