South Dallas' iconic Forest Theater is ready to shine again after $70M makeover

The milestone marks a new chapter for the theater, which has served as a center for Black artistic expression and cultural life in South Dallas for decades. Located at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and S.M. Wright Freeway, the Forest Theater is being restored with help from Forest Forward, the nonprofit organization leading the revitalization effort. It really is iconic – it s legendary to be able to bring this space back, Forest Forward CEO Elizabeth Wattley said. Inside, the newly renovated lobby offers a glimpse of how the project is preserving the theater s past while preparing it for the future. We worked really hard to bring that design back, that feel back. So the black and white checkered floors, the swooping ramp, the medallions on the ramp – it’s all original, Wattley said. The restoration includes a redesigned east lobby and a newly created south lobby, both welcoming visitors into a theater designed to accommodate live concerts, stage performances and movies. The theater s modern sound system is another highlight of the renovation. Filmmakers are very excited because this sound system, particularly, is designed to be heard exactly how the filmmaker wants it to be heard, Wattley said. Throughout its history, the Forest Theater has taken on many roles, operating as a movie theater, nightclub and even a house of worship. Preserving that history has been central to the renovation. We are historically designated, so everything will look like it used to look but brand new, Wattley said. And then you’ll see more historic features above your head.” The transformation extends to the rooftop, which offers views of downtown Dallas, Fair Park and the theater s historic tower. That tower will take center stage during a community celebration this weekend, when it is illuminated for the first time in more than six decades. The public is invited to get an up-close look at the revitalized landmark as the project approaches completion. A lot of work has led up to the day and were very excited to see it right at the horizons, Wattley said. For those involved in bringing the Forest Theater back to life, the celebration represents years of work to restore a treasured piece of South Dallas history. To just step back and see what’s been accomplished – and what’s coming to life – it’s pretty exciting, Wattley said. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.