Originally opened in 1911 with a theatre on the upper two floors and a few town offices on the ground floor, the Kate, then known as the Town Hall, has always been the center of cultural activities in Old Saybrook.

The story of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center began on December 5, 1905, a year and a half before Katharine Hepburn was born. That day, a meeting was held at the home of Joseph Cone, printer, performer and musician, for the purpose of forming the Old Saybrook Musical and Dramatic Club. The meeting was a success and the Club was incorporated eleven months later with a two-fold purpose; the presentation of theatrical performances and the construction of a theatre to house these performances.

Over the next forty years, as Katharine Hepburn built international fame as an actress, the building would become an integral part of the Saybrook community, adopting almost as many guises as its namesake to come. Ms. Hepburn, throughout her career, always came back to Fenwick and Old Saybrook. It was a haven for her, a retreat, a place she called “paradise” and it was to this paradise that she retired in 1997, sixty-five years after her screen debut. Ms. Hepburn passed away here, in 2003. That same year, the town of Old Saybrook voted to restore the building to its original use as a theatre. Two years later, Ms. Hepburn’s family granted the town the right to name this theatre after her and thus, the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center was born. The Kate is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Kate promotes a variety and diversity of performing arts on the Connecticut Shoreline and throughout the region by providing an artistic home for these arts while honoring the legacy of Connecticut’s finest actress. After state of the art renovations, the Kate includes a 250-seat theatre that presents work in several genres including music, theater, opera, dance, comedy, film, art exhibits, lectures, a variety of Children’s programing, and other artistic endeavors. The theatre lobby encompasses a small museum honoring Katharine Hepburn.

The Kate sees about 30,000 adults and children per year cross its threshold and reaches over 24,000 homes regularly with its mailings. It has been recognized as Yankee Magazine’s “Best Small Theater in Connecticut” in 2014 and in Connecticut Magazine as the “Best Small Concert Venue” in the state.

Local

Eat and Drink

• Atlantic Seafood Market - old saybrook (1.6 miles) - Atlantic Seafood Market is the go to source for fresh seafood and on site gourmet to go food. We pri...
• On the Rocks at Fox Hopyard - east haddam (10.4 miles) - On The Rocks is a beautiful restaurant, bar and events center located at Fox Hopyard Golf Club. Both...
• The Wharf - Madison (12.2 miles) - The Wharf Restaurant is located inside the Madison Beach Hotel overlooking the Long Island Sound. Op...
• Sannino Vineyard - Peconic (17.6 miles) - Winemaker's Dinner Four-Course Dinner by Mattitaco Sommelier Crafted Wine Pairings $80 plus tax pe...
• Sannino Vineyard - Peconic (17.6 miles) - The art of growing and crafting quality wine on the North Fork of Long Island is where Sannino Viney...

See and Do

• The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center Old Saybrook (0.0 miles) - Originally opened in 1911 with a theatre on the upper two floors and a few town offices on the groun...
• Reel Cast Charters Old Saybrook (2.7 miles) - Reel Cast Charters is a full-time Connecticut-based sport fishing guide service specializing in the ...
• Connecticut River Museum Essex (4.2 miles) - The Connecticut River Museum currently plays an important role in collecting and protecting manuscri...
• Spectrum Art Gallery and Artisan Store Centerbrook (4.7 miles) - Spectrum Art Gallery in Essex, CT opened April 2014, an addition to the Arts Center Killingworth, a ...
• Joyride Charters Westbrook (5.0 miles) - Welcome to Joy Ride Charters. We are celebrating our 11th year of business! If you’re looking for ...

Shopping

• Chalk Mercantile - Old Saybrook (0.5 miles) - Chalk Mercantile is a shop that reflects the owner’s love of antiques, handmade local goods and be...
• Mystic Knotwork - Mystic (21.6 miles) - Mystic Knotwork is the source for the original sailor bracelet, traditional knotwork re-imagined as ...