Like the woman it’s named after, The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, "The Kate" is considered a treasure among her fans.
Located inside Old Saybrook's former town hall, the center includes a 285-seat theater where a diverse array of performing arts events are presented. It opened in 2009, six years after Hepburn’s death and after a multi-million dollar renovation of the old town hall.
Considered one of the greatest actors of the 20th Century, Hepburn, who set a record that still holds today by garnering 12 Academy Award nominations and winning four Oscars, had close ties to Connecticut and Old Saybrook. She was born in West Hartford in 1912 and grew up there. When she was five years old, her family bought a waterfront summer home in the Fenwick section of Old Saybrook.
Fenwick and the family’s rambling, Nantucket-style cottage held a special place in Hepburn’s heart. She called the place “paradise,” because it offered her refuge and respite from her busy Hollywood life.
Known as much for her natural beauty as for her straight-forward, no-nonsense character (she wore slacks instead of dresses or skirts at a time when it was uncommon and was known for being outgoing, outspoken and athletic), Hepburn later in her life came back to Fenwick to live year-round. However, she was never a recluse in her seaside home. Locals would tell of seeing her occasionally buying groceries in a small supermarket on Main Street or visiting the hardware store nearby.
She died at age 96 in Fenwick in 2003 and her home was later sold and renovated.
This past year, the Kate marked a milestone in its homage to the actress when it renovated the Katharine Hepburn Museum on the first floor of the performing arts center.
The expansion of what had been two rooms with a small amount of some Hepburn memorabilia came about after the center was able to raise about $500,000 in donations. The impetus for the expansion came when one of Hepburn’s heirs gifted a treasure trove of some of the actress’s personal effects.
“The quantity of memorabilia now available for view in the museum has quadrupled,” said Robin Andreoli, Director of Development and Community Relations for The Kate.
On display are photos of Hepburn - both in her personal and professional life – videos of the actress, and exhibits containing wardrobe pieces from her legendary film career, letters she wrote to family and friends chronicling her rise to superstardom, and examples of some of the original artwork the actress painted.
The museum is open to the public four days a week - Tuesday through Friday - from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and one hour before performances. It includes several video screens throughout the displays that play home movies and film clips of Hepburn. Those videos, along with photos and large dioramas of some of Hepburn’s hand-written letters, give museum visitors an intimate sense of the woman, Robin said.
"We feel the museum, the only one of its kind, truly offers an authentic view of the life and career of our namesake and her influence on popular culture and the entertainment industry.”
"The Kate"
Katharine Hepburn Community Arts Center
300 Main St., Old Saybrook
katharinehepburntheater.org
Tickets: 860-510-0453
Phone: 860.510.0473