The Mosaic That Is Innovation Hamilton to see how a culture of innovation thrives when disparate pieces connect. Hamilton took Broadway by storm when it opened on August 6, 2015, and it has not let go. In 2018, the annual Kennedy Center Honors departed from its tradition of solely recognizing individual artists or bands for their contributions over the course of their careers and gave a special award to the musical Hamilton as a piece of work. The Kennedy Center celebrated Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, Alex Lacamoire, and Andy Blankenbuehler, the four key collaborators who brought the show into being, as "trailblazing creators of a transformative work that defies category." In introducing the award, Gloria Estefan proclaimed that "