Forest Theater Reopens in South Dallas, Bringing Community Together
The Forest Theater’s historic tower lit up the South Dallas skyline during its “Grand Return” celebration on November 1, 2026, fully illuminated for the first time in more than 50 years. Residents, artists, elected officials and community leaders gathered for the reopening. State Sen. Royce West said it felt “like a family reunion.” Dallas Weekly publisher Jessica Washington attended as a South Dallas community member and a board member of Forest Forward, the organization behind the theater’s revival. She wrote that Dallas Weekly had followed the project from its early plans through fundraising and community engagement. Washington saw the celebration as a chance to witness the preservation of and investment in a Black Dallas institution. She also credited Elizabeth Wattley’s persistence in building support despite criticism and rejection. Jon and Linda Halbert were recognized for their contributions to the effort. A VIP reception opened with gospel music, followed by students from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Arts Academy singing Quincy Jones and Tevin Campbell’s “Tomorrow.” Before leaving, Washington spoke with Willie Mae Coleman, a 93-year-old South Dallas community leader who had witnessed the neighborhood’s growth and decades of decline. Asked how she felt seeing the theater’s return, Coleman said, “Baby, I had to stay alive just for this moment.”
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