Kennedy Center Honors to recognize team behind ‘Hamilton’

WASHINGTON – D.C.’s “Summer of ‘Hamilton” will stretch into December, when the Kennedy Center Honors salute the groundbreaking musical and its four creators, marking the first time a work of art has been spotlighted at the annual celebration of the performing arts.

“Hamilton” and its creative team –composer-lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda, director Thomas Kail, music director Alex Lacamoire, and choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler – will receive a special honor Dec. 2 in a ceremony that also salutes the lifetime achievements of composer Philip Glass, singer-actresses Cher and Reba McEntire, and jazz musician Wayne Shorter.

Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter acknowledged that the decision to honor a work of art is a dramatic change in the honors’ four-decade history, but she said it was warranted because of “Hamilton’s” enormous influence. The hip-hop musical about the Founding Fathers has garnered international attention, brought new fans to Broadway, and received a Pulitzer Prize and Grammy and Tony awards.

“Our conversations were about how powerful this work has been, what it has done to the conversation, the coverage it has received and how powerfully it has impacted every single individual,” Rutter said. “How can we acknowledge it now, while it’s happening?”

The musical’s four creators will be the youngest to receive a Kennedy Center Honor. Manuel is 38; Kail, 40; Lacamoire, 43; and Blankenbuehler, 48. LL Cool J, one of last year’s winners, and Stevie Wonder were 49 when they were given the award.

The Kennedy Center has honored groups before, including the Eagles in 2016 and Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of the Who in 2008, as well as such creative partnerships as musical theater legends Fred Ebb and John Kander in 1998 and husband-and-wife actors Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee in 2004.

The selection of “Hamilton” and its young creators – who were behind the earlier “In the Heights” musical – also represents the Kennedy Center’s focus on current art, Rutter said.

“Part of our current identity is to celebrate greatness that has already been achieved and greatness that is happening now,” she said.

The award continues a trend of recognizing artists whose works are featured on the arts center’s stages. In 2015, Carole King was honored weeks after her biographical musical, “Beautiful,” was presented, and 2017 honoree Gloria Estefan was saluted the month before her musical, “On Your Feet,” opened at the center.

“It had nothing to do with that,” Rutter said about “Hamilton.” “It’s not a ‘thank you’ but rather an acknowledgment of its power.”

Since 1978, the Kennedy Center has celebrated American culture with a star-studded performance and gala that raises money for its programs. A highlight of Washington’s social calendar, the ceremony features top artists who perform while the honorees – wearing medallions with rainbow ribbons – watch from the Opera House’s box tier. The performance will be broadcast on Dec. 26 on CBS.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have not confirmed their attendance at the event, the second ceremony of Trump’s tenure, Rutter said. The couple did not attend last year after three honorees said they would boycott the White House reception that traditionally precedes the performance.

In response, the White House said in August that the Trumps would not attend “to allow the honorees to celebrate without any political distractions.”

Jimmy Carter did not attend in 1979, during the Iran hostage crisis, and Bill Clinton missed the Honors in 1994 when he was at a conference in Europe. Both times, their wives hosted.

When asked about the Trumps’ attendance, Rutter said: “It’s important as a national memorial, for us to welcome and serve and celebrate everyone here. We revere and respect the office of the president, and to have the office of the president respect the arts is important to us.”

Glass, for one, said he hopes the president joins the party.

“The best thing would be if he would come to the awards and meet us and talk to us,” said the 81-year-old composer, who admitted he doesn’t think the president will attend.