The Forest Theater in South Dallas has officially reopened to the public. Organizers held a large celebration on Sunday with live entertainment, a vendor village and food trucks. Erykah Badu headlined the event, which ended with the relighting of the venue's tower and marquee.
The restored campus includes a concert hall, a black box theater and a creative education lab. The theater first opened in 1949. Performers who played there over the decades included Tina Turner, Prince and Gladys Knight. It closed in 2008 and sat unused before recent renovations.
Organizers say the reopening is an investment in the future of South Dallas and gives the community new spaces for arts, entertainment and education. Dr. Teresa L. Jackson, arts and culture commissioner for District 7, said, "To see an icon come back to this level, it is amazing."