[1] The original Forrest Theatre was on Broad and Sansom Street but Fidelity Trust Company demolished it and replaced it in 1928 with the Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Company Building (now the Wells Fargo Building).

[1] The new theatre was built in 1927 at the cost of $2 million, and was designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp;[1][2] it was named after the 19th century actor Edwin Forrest, who was born in Philadelphia, and owned and lived in the Edwin Forrest House.

[1] A renovation of the theatre was undertaken in 1997, including redecoration and the addition of handicapped-accessible restrooms.

[3] Over the years, the Forrest Theatre has been a proving ground for various Broadway plays and musicals, serving as the location for previews and try-outs of these productions.

Some of the shows that played at the Forrest prior to moving to Broadway include The Women (1936),[4] Make Mine Manhattan (1948), Along Fifth Avenue (1948), The Liar (1950), Wonderful Town (1953), The Music Man (1957), Funny Girl (1963), The Star-Spangled Girl (1966), Breakfast at Tiffany's (1966),[5] Golden Rainbow (1967), The Wiz (1974), and Chicago (1975).