Not many things made Katharine Hepburn nervous, but the prospect of meeting French fashion icon Coco Chanel had her worried. Hepburn would go on to earn a Tony nomination for her starring role in Coco, a musical based on the life of Chanel. The choice to do a musical, much less do one at the age of 62 was typical of Hepburn’s independent approach to her career. She sought out challenges, and Coco certainly provided many—elaborate moving sets that frequently broke down mid-performance, singing (for a woman who had almost never sung before an audience), the grueling schedule of a Broadway and then touring production, and that meeting with Chanel herself. Are you wondering what happened when the slacks-wearing Hepburn met France’s haute couture style maker? Have you heard the story of the attack on Hepburn that happened when she was in Hartford performing Coco at the Bushnell? Did you know that Hepburn bought her own Chanel outfits to wear in the stage production? Get these and all your other burning questions about Katharine Hepburn answered by our knowledgeable CHS staff as they lead you through our fabulous exhibit. For July and August we’re offering guided tours FREE with museum admission every Tuesday and Saturday at 2 pm.
Here are all the details:
Public Tours of Katharine Hepburn: Dressed for Stage and Screen
Tuesdays and Saturdays in July and August │ 2:00 pm │ FREE with museum admission │Space is limited
Join us for a guided tour of the exhibit and learn more about Hepburn’s life in Connecticut, her film career, and her iconic personal style. Beat the summer heat, and bring along your out-of-town visitors!
Jennifer Steadman is the Adult Programs Manager at the Connecticut Historical Society
inside the CHS 