Erykah Badu Reclaimed South Dallas Theater for Community Events

Erykah Badu leased the Forest Theater in South Dallas in the early 2000s, transforming the historic venue into the Black Forest Theater. Paul Levatino, the general manager of Badu World, oversaw operations during this period. The venue served as a community hub and a stage for major musical acts, including Jill Scott, George Clinton, and Dave Chappelle.

Badu’s connection to the building was personal. Her father worked at the Green Parrot, a club attached to the theater complex. Badu performed at the venue as a child and later sought a lease to restore it. Levatino noted that the theater had been a prominent Black theater for decades, hosting artists like Aretha Franklin and B.B. King. Badu aimed to make the space safe and accessible for the neighborhood.

The group extended the venue’s role beyond concerts. Levatino recalled that food vendors and local artists set up in the lobby. The space offered music, jewelry, and apparel, creating a market atmosphere. In 2005, the theater hosted a benefit concert series for Hurricane Katrina relief. Badu collaborated with Curtis King of the Black Academy Arts and Letters to host schoolchildren. The program provided lessons, art classes, and meals for children bused into Dallas from the Gulf Coast.

A defining moment occurred on June 11, 2004, when Prince visited the theater after playing at the American Airlines Center. Levatino described the challenge of moving the musician through the crowd. Security guards formed a wall to guide Prince from the back hallway to the stage. Prince initially arrived by police escort but left to retrieve a forgotten guitar at the AAC. He returned to the theater close to 2 a.m.

Dallas musician Jeff Wade, who performed with the Cannabinoids, witnessed the event. Wade remembered Prince sitting alone on the VIP balcony for two hours. At 1:45 a.m., the house lights went up, and the crowd reduced to about 50 people. Prince and his band, featuring saxophonist Maceo Parker, took the stage. They performed “Love Bizarre” by Sheila E. for the remaining audience. Levatino confirmed that no cameras were allowed, preserving the night as a local legend.

The Cannabinoids, a group of local producers, were a recurring act at the theater. Wade explained that Badu created the collective to provide a platform for local talent, inspired by the production crew Sa-Ra. The group performed original music and remixes, contributing to the venue’s vibrant atmosphere. Other events included a concert by British DJ Paul Oakenfold in 2005, which was marred by an air conditioning failure on a hot night.

Dave Chappelle’s Block Party Tour was the final major concert held at the venue. Badu appeared on the soundtrack of Chappelle’s concert film released that year. Wade served as the house DJ for the event. Financial pressures eventually led Badu to end her lease. Levatino cited the cost of maintaining a large space and repairing disrepair as primary factors. He described the decision as painful for the team and the neighborhood.

Badu gave birth to her daughter Puma on July 5, 2004, less than a month after the Prince concert. She was eight months pregnant during her performance that night. The theater’s era under Badu’s stewardship ended with the Chappelle event, leaving behind a legacy of community support and memorable musical performances in South Dallas.