What is The Kate in Old Saybrook?

The Kate is the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center. It is a 285-seat theater on Main Street in Old Saybrook, CT. It hosts concerts, comedy, film, and tribute shows. It also has a small museum about Hepburn, who lived in Old Saybrook her whole life.

Why is it named for Katharine Hepburn?

Katharine Hepburn won four Academy Awards. She lived in Old Saybrook her whole life, at the family home in the Fenwick section. The arts center opened in 2009. It is named and themed in her honor.

How do I find shows at The Kate?

The free CT Concert Center app lists shows at The Kate. It also covers 40+ Connecticut venues, updated daily.

Venue guide

The Kate, Old Saybrook: A Complete Guide

Q: How old is the building?

The building opened in 1911 as Old Saybrook's town hall. It had a theater on the upper floors. The community worked to restore it. It reopened as the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center on September 11, 2009. It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

Updated June 2026 · 5 min read

The short version

The Kate is the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center. It is a 285-seat shoreline theater in Old Saybrook. It is named for the Hollywood star who called the town home. The building was a 1911 town hall. It was restored and reopened in 2009. Today it hosts concerts, comedy, and film, plus a small Hepburn museum.

The Connecticut River meets Long Island Sound on the shoreline here. One of the state's most charming small theaters sits right there. It has a real Hollywood link.

The theater (285 seats)

The Kate seats just 285. That's the point: there's no bad seat. The room feels warm, and the performer can see the whole crowd. Shows here cover a lot: touring singers, tribute acts, comedy, classic films, and a live music series. It's the cultural anchor of the lower shoreline.

Best for: concerts, comedy, and film a short walk from the water.

Never miss a show at The Kate

See every Kate show in the free CT Concert Center app. It covers 40+ Connecticut venues.

Download on theApp Store

The Hepburn connection & the building

The center is named for Katharine Hepburn. She won four Oscars. She lived in Old Saybrook her whole life. Her family's home was in the Fenwick section. The building opened in 1911 as the town hall. It had a theater on its upper floors. In 2003, the community voted to bring back live shows. It reopened as the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center on September 11, 2009. It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. A small museum on site tells Hepburn's story.

Planning your visit

Getting there: Old Saybrook sits right off I-95. It has an Amtrak/Shore Line East station, midway along the shoreline.
Make a day of it: pair a show with the shoreline. See our nearby New London venue guide.
More small rooms: explore our best small & intimate venues guide.

The Kate FAQ

How big is it?

Just 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.