Legendary actress, Katharine Hepburn, born in Hartford, Connecticut and who called Old Saybrook, Connecticut her paradise, will be honored this year with a U.S. postal stamp. It will be unveiled on the 4-time Academy Award winning actress’s birthday which is May 12th.

Hepburn made more than 40 films. Hepburn was known for doing it “her” way and paved the way for women to be independent and free thinkers.

It is the hope of those of us on the Board of Trustees of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, that the stamp may be presented at her namesake theater in Old Saybrook.

The Washington Post has a look at all the recipients of stamps this year. Those being honored include Nobel Prize winner, Mother Teresa cowboy, Roy Rogers, Kate Smith of “God Bless America” song fame, and Michigan’s Mackinac Bridge.

Board of Trustee, Member, Elaine Staplins, a native Old Saybrookian, was among the initial select group of folks to help open the theater. Elaine has been keeping a close watch on the Hepburn stamp, she has known it was going to happen for several years. We thank Elaine for all she has done and continues to do, she is amazing.

So keep your fingers crossed that the theater will get national media coverage when the stamp is unveiled this spring.

For more on the Hepburn stamp you can go to Playbill’s blog written by Judy Samelson who is an authority on Miss Hepburn. Thank you so much, Judy!

See you at “The Kate!”
Ann Nyberg, Trustee, KHCAC

I don’t even know where to start. The first gala for the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center was a smashing success. An enormous tent, make that tents, on the green in Old Saybrook, bathed in red (Hepburn’s favorite color) with close to 500 people toasting to the brand new venue.

Major contributors for this event included CL&P/Northeast Utilities, Gengras Volvo and Hoffman Auto Group.

Among those seated round the tables, famed long time Executive Director Michael Price of Goodspeed Musicals (East Haddam, CT) and owner of one of the most successful independent book stores in the country (RJ Julia Booksellers), Roxanne Coady.

Major contributors for this event included CL&P/Northeast Utilities, Gengras Volvo and Hoffman Auto Group.

Three women to thank for bringing this together and spending countless hours tweaking to make it was just perfect are Jean Caron, Jeanne Potoff, Kathy Berluti. They navigated high seas the likes I’m sure had not been predicted. You all deserve a vacation in the islands.

Countless volunteers worked tirelessly on the gala to make it just right. One person whispered to me who knew what he was talking about , said this was nothing short of a Hollywood premiere event.

Behind the scenes organizers were manning walkie-talkies so that nothing would be over looked throughout the evening.

Though this was a black tie event, there was nothing stuffy about this affair…even the auctioneer, Kathy Kingston of Kingston Auction Company had at one point a stuffed monkey around her neck bidding up the prizes.

Speaking of which, the prize of the night was a “Summer Dinner at the former Hepburn Fenwick, Ct Mansion with cooking legend, Jacques Pepin and a meal prepared by the Bee and Thistle Inn of Old Lyme. The Bee and Thistle is owned by a “Kate” board member, Linnea Rufo. Linnea wears any hats for The Kate evening being in charge of the production of the gala.

The ending bid for this wonderful event went for more than $8,000.00! Frank and Barbara Sciame the owners of Hepburn’s former Long Island Sound seaside home ,have graciously been such a supporter of The Kate and we thank them so much.

Governor Jodi Rell, though not in attendance, sent along these words provided in the evening’s program:

“This anniversary gala is an opportunity to celebrate the reopening of a community jewel and a restored, original theater that preserves the memory of a Connecticut star.  This occasion is a true testament to the members, volunteers, and supporters of the Katharine Hepbrn Cultural Arts Center’s commitment to raising the standards of excellence in the State of Connecticut by enriching the cultural and educational life of our local communities.”

There were two shows for guests of MOMIX, based in Washington, Connecticut, this group astounded the group. MOMIX is an internationally known dancer-illusionist group under the direction of Moses Pendleton.

There were “Kate-tinis” in Side Car champagne glasses (how vintage) served as guests arrived and the wonderful food was provided by Coastal Gourmet Catering of Stonington, Connecticut. The flowers on the tables were red roses, the water was filled with tiny apples that were very fragrant, perfect for a fall gala.

Seriously, you did not want this night to end. Executive Director, Chuck Still did an outstanding job of welcoming everyone and thanking everyone profusely for all they have done or will do for The Kate.

An oil painting of Katharine Hepburn was unveiled by famed artist, Everett Raymond Kinstler. Kinstler, who has studios in Easton, CT and in New York, has also painted the official White House portraits of Presidents Ford and Reagan and some fifty Cabinet officers. We are deeply grateful to Mr. Kinstler for his contributions to the arts and to The Kate.

You’ll have to come to the new museum at The Kate to see  this beautiful portrait for yourself.

Speaking of which, we have so many things there for you to see there, including dresses worn by Miss Hepburn in the 1949 movie “Adam’s Rib” and my favorite, made in 1957 “Desk Set“….they are something to see. Hepburn stars in both with her long time companion, Spencer Tracy.

We also have Hepburn’s actual Emmy, lifetime achievement awards and many other awards…you’ll want to spend a lot of time seeing this tribute to Katharine Hepburn. We weren’t kidding around when we said this was going to be Kate’s Place. Hey, those of you out in Hollywood, you just might want to take a trip out to see the only theater in the world named after the 4-time Academy Award winner, Katharine Hepburn.

See you at The Kate!
Ann Nyberg, Trustee, KHCAC

Okay ta-dah! Here it is. The new logo for the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center. We love it. It is of course in Katharine Hepburn’s favorite color, red. It is fresh and modern and reflects all the many things that will be going on at the theater. Here are just some of the money events to come. There will be comedy, cabaret, drama, dance, exhibits, lectures, home town fun, music, live events in HD from the MET, 92nd Street Y events from New York City, live television events, many children’s shows and drama camps for kids and even film, yes, we are 100 percent modern in a National Historic Register venue. Pretty neat, right?

Because “Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center” is such a mouthful, the venue will be known as “The Kate.” The nickname is perfect, because that’s what family and friends called Hepburn…she even referred to herself as “Kate.”

We love he slogan….”I’ll meet you at The Kate.”

So, how did we come up with this? We worked with Good Design out of Deep River, Connecticut. By the way, Deep River is a gorgeous part of the state of Connecticut, just thought I’d throw that in there. Digressing a bit further, the town is quite near the Goodspeed Opera House. Goodspeed Musicals has been instrumental in helping us to open the theater and we thank them so much. Under the leadership of Executive Director, Michael Price the venue thrives and is world famous.

Back to Good Design. Caryn Erickson and Gabielle Hoffman helped guide is in our design of the logo in so many ways. Trust me when I tell you we taxed them on this one, wanting be so careful to represent the 4-time Academy Award wining actress in a respectful way and yet represent all that we will be.

Look for our new Logo everywhere, and if you’d like, take it and put it on your website and help us spread the word about this wonderful place called “The Kate.”

See you at “The Kate!”
Ann Nyberg, Trustee, KHCAC

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Main Lobby

When you come to an event at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center and Theater, you will come in thru the doors on the right in the photo. It’s a gleaming new addition to the 1911 old Town Hall structure.

This will be a nice gathering spot for folks on the lower level. There will be a will-call window here too.

This will be a space as well to enjoy a cocktail, yes, we have a liquor license.

Around the corner there will be a museum to the 4-time Academy Award winning actress and theater practice areas, offices, there is a lot of interesting alcoves on this level.

The elevator is here too to take you up to the one-floor-above main theater chamber.

On this level too is an old bank vault that was part of the original building…we have some fun ideas for that space. That could be a naming opportunity for anyone interested…hint…hint.

We open in August and we can’t wait! Incidentally the Grand Gala eventsKa will be the week of October 17th, boy is that going to be something for all ages.

See you at “The Kate!”
Ann Nyberg, Trustee, KHCAC

So it seems a new book on Katharine Hepburn could be in the works by well known biographer, Charlotte Chadler. Chandler has written biographies on such stars as Mae West, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Groucho Marx, Ingrid Bergman, Alfred Hitchcock and Billy Wilder.

This news is according to long time gossip columnist, Liz Smith, Smith just reported this news on her web site called “The Women on the Web” or WOWOWOW.

In Smith’s post she quotes one of Hepburn’s  favorite quotes which is; “This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish, little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy!”

Smith says Hepburn passed the quote on to her in her very last interview with the iconic star.

There is no information yet on when this bok on Hepburn by Chandler may be released. For those of  you who are Hepburn fans, the anticipation begins as to when you can get your hands on the read and scour it for any new tidbits you may not yet know about the four time Academy Award winner from Connecticut.

Something to look forward to, right?

See you at “The Kate!”
Ann Nyberg, Trustee, KHCAC

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