Sounds of life emerge from unassuming Oak Cliff theater

by Sarah Crisman

OAK CLIFF — The Dallas music scene has been quietly migrating to Oak Cliff of late. Edwin Cabaniss bought the old Kessler Theater on Davis Street with the intention of turning it into a "creative safe haven" with multiple personalities: a music venue, dance studio, performance space, and art gallery all nestled in to the historic theater once owned by Gene Autry.

Cabaniss put Jeff Liles in charge of the music while the building underwent the face lift necessary after being hit by a tornado, burned down, transformed into a revival tabernacle, and then left empty for 30 years -- nothing a dab of paint and countless hours of elbow grease can't fix. Liles was on board months before the theater would be ready for the general public, then he had an idea.

"When he told me how long it was going to take to rehab the building, I just figured I would start asking my friends who are in bands to come play at the construction site in the meantime," Liles said. Thus was born Resurrecting the Kessler, a documentary short-series featuring The Kessler in its gorgeous element -- haunted by local musicians.

"[It] sounds great in there."

The Kessler won't be open for shows of any sort until New Year's Eve, but that hasn't stopped Liles and hoards of local artists from flocking to the space to play with the unique acoustics. There is a resulting sense of invested pride among the creative community.

"You're gonna see the artists become very protective of the Kessler," Liles said. "It's gonna be their home away from home."

The Kessler is already carving out its niche in the legacy of North Texas music. Their Facebook page offers a useful stream of relevant music and community news punctuated by the outpouring of support from artists of all disciplines. The visionaries behind the scene already have much to be proud of: In a recent interview with Advocate magazine, Lisa Cabaniss shared her vision of the Kessler housing a performing arts school for the children of Oak Cliff. By reaching out to the artists first and making clear their community-minded intentions, The Kessler is positioning itself cozily within the emerging (and established) legacy of Dallas culture.