First opened in 1949, The Forest is a historic theater and landmark in South Dallas and was one of the first entertainment destinations in the city. It became a vital part in the growth of the Black community and the culture of the south side. It’s been closed for nearly 13 years but we are so excited to announce the new plan to restore the theater as The Forest!
Updated January 2022
HISTORY OF THE THEATRE
The Forest Theater transformed into an entertainment center and cultural hub for the Black community between the 50’s and 70’s, hosting icons Prince, B.B. King, Tina Turner, Dave Chapelle and more. It later became an events venue and nightclub from the 80’s to 2000’s before ultimately closing its doors in 2008.
Flash forward 13 years and a team of Dallasites are working to restore the space and bring back the excitement of the theater! The Forest Forward nonprofit has raised over $15 million in fundraising and today, debuted #theForestReveal with plans to revitalize the space with a state-of-the-art stage, community classroom for workshops and seminars, art center, coffee shop, co-working space, outdoor space, and more!
STAY TUNED
This is such exciting news for our community and restoring the history of arts and entertainment in Dallas! Tune into The Forest's Instagram to join in on the reveal and follow along as they continue to roll out these plans. We can’t wait to see that marquee shine bright over South Dallas once again.
