Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Carpet

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Risers

The carpeting is going in at the Katharine Hepburn Arts Center and Theater. It provides a splash of color and helps with the sound proofing of the venue. In this photo ,the carpeting is being put down in the 50 seat balcony area. There is not one bad seat in the 250 seat theater, but I in particular love the balcony. It is very wide and the view is scrumptious.

In the next photo, the risers are being built. The first six rows of the theater will have seats that can be removed, but in the very back area the seats are fixed. We have made sure that the seats are very beautiful and comfy and that site lines are perfect, just in case you’re were wondering. We took great pains to make sure that was the case in the only theater in the world named after the great legendary actress, Katharine Hepburn. In an earlier post ,you will note that indeed Ms. Hepburn was in this theater with her father many moons ago to take a look at the set for a summer show.

In the final shot is the huge movie screen being hung. We will have lots of film including those wonderful for which Hepburn won her record four Oscars. Perhaps will even be home to a Film Festival one day, the sky is the limit for The Kate. We may even be hosting some children’s matinees as well. Remember those Saturday afternoons at the movies as a kid with the popcorn on you lap?

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Screen

Now all of this brings us to the need for volunteers at The Kate. As we gear up for our inaugural season, and we’re seeking volunteers to help run our box office.

The Box Office will be open during the week from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and with additional evening hours on performance dates.

Volunteers in the box office should be able to commit to at least 2 or 3 shifts per week. You’ll need to have computer experience, as well as excellent interpersonal skills. In addition to being an integral part of the exciting process of putting on a show, Box Office volunteers will have an opportunity to see shows at The Kate free of charge. For more information, please contact Peter Johns, the Box Office Manager, at 860.510.0473 ext. 203.

Turner House, circa 1912

Around the time the “Turner House” was built in Oak Cliff, Texas, Katharine Hepburn was about 5 years old. Purchased by a Wealthy Texas Oilman, in the early 1900’s he enjoyed hosting musical events, and lavish lawn parties at the home. Oak Cliff is right outside of Dallas.

Thru the years it was bought and sold and in 1957 the Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts bought the place.

Fast forward to today. The Turner House is not only for fine arts, but is a community gathering place and in the fall they have something called “Movies On The Lawn.” The public is invited to bring their lawn chairs and blankets and sit under the stars with family and friends and watch movies.

One of the themes last year was “Dynamic Duos.” That’s of course the reason for this post, they showed ‘Woman of the Year” with Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.

It just so happens the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center plans to do the same thing, only we’ll show our movies during the summer months, as we don’t have Dallas-like weather during our Fall.

We will have a large outdoor screen on the side of the venue which faces the Old Saybrook Town Green where you will be able to sit and enjoy conversation and movies in the New England night air.

We’re raising money for such things. Where is that Texas Oilman when you need him? Heck we’ll even name that wing of the building where that movie screen will hang for such a person!

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

Turner House Movie Screen

Woman of the Year Movie Poster

A few people in the Town of Old Saybrook, Connecticut several years ago had a dream about resurrecting an old Town Hall which sat smack dab in the middle of Main street. Fast-forward that dream is soon to be realized with the opening of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center 501(c)3 in the late legendary actress’s summer time home. This is the only theatre in the world to be named for Hepburn.

The 4-time Academy Award winning actress found refuge in this town by the sea in Connecticut. The community let “Kate” be “Kate.” In the Fenwick section of Old Saybrook, Ms. Hepburn, out of the glare of the Hollywood spotlight, would bring movie star after movie star to her family home.

This will be a fun place for you to come to monitor our progress as we start barreling toward opening night. The Board of Trustees is busy raising money to make this the best it can be. If you love the arts and you’d like to help us reach our goal there is a red “ChipIn” button (donation button) on the far left of this blog where yes, you can “chip in”and help us make this a reality. Thank you. Read the rest of this entry »