The Kate, Old Saybrook: A Complete Guide
The Kate — the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center — is a 285-seat shoreline theater in Old Saybrook, named for the Hollywood legend who called the town home. Housed in a restored 1911 town hall and reopened in 2009, it pairs an intimate room with a steady stream of concerts, comedy, and film, plus a small Hepburn museum.
On the Connecticut shoreline, where the Connecticut River meets Long Island Sound, sits one of the most charming small theaters in the state — and one with a genuine Hollywood pedigree.
The theater (285 seats)
The Kate seats just 285, which is exactly the point: there's no bad seat, and the room has the warmth of a place where the performer can see the whole crowd. The programming is wide — touring singer-songwriters, tribute acts, comedy, classic-film screenings, and a popular live-recorded music series — making it the cultural anchor of the lower shoreline.
Best for: intimate concerts, comedy, and film a short walk from the water.
Never miss a show at The Kate
See every upcoming Kate concert — plus 40+ Connecticut venues — in the free CT Concert Center app.
Download on theApp StoreThe Hepburn connection & the building
The center is named for Katharine Hepburn, the four-time Oscar winner who was a lifelong resident of Old Saybrook, living at the family home in the Fenwick section. The building itself opened in 1911 as the town hall, with a theater on its upper floors. After a 2003 community vote to restore its theatrical function, it was renovated and reopened as the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center on September 11, 2009. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007, and a small museum on site tells Hepburn's story.
Planning your visit
- Getting there: Old Saybrook sits right off I-95 with an Amtrak/Shore Line East station, midway along the shoreline.
- Make a day of it: pair a show with the shoreline — and see our nearby New London venue guide.
- More small rooms: explore our best small & intimate venues guide.
The Kate FAQ
How big is it?
An intimate 285 seats.
Why "The Kate"?
It's named for Katharine Hepburn, a lifelong Old Saybrook resident.
How old is the building?
It opened as a town hall in 1911 and reopened as the arts center in 2009.
How do I find upcoming shows?
The free CT Concert Center app lists The Kate in one feed.