Akron Roundtable: Paul Tazewell
Category: Event Calendar
Date and Time
- Tuesday, Apr 7, 2026 12pm
Location
John S. Knight Center
77 E Mill St
Details
Oscar, Emmy, and two-time Tony Award-winning designer Paul Tazewell is a defining creative force in theater, film, and fashion.
Tazewell is best known for his costume design for the record-breaking film adaptation of WICKED, which
received widespread acclaim following its release in November 2024. Costumes like Glinda’s iconic pink
bubble dress, which required over 225 hours of work, became a symbol of his meticulous craftsmanship
and visual storytelling. In Spring 2025, he made history as the first Black man to win the Academy Award
for Best Costume Design — a season that also brought him a BAFTA Award, Critics’ Choice Award, and
the Costume Designers Guild Award for "Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film."
Across stage and screen, Tazewell’s work has shaped some of the most significant productions of the past
three decades. With over 30 Broadway credits to his name, his designs for HAMILTON earned him a Tony
Award in 2016, followed by a second in 2025 for DEATH BECOMES HER. Additional theatrical work
includes IN THE HEIGHTS and THE COLOR PURPLE. On screen, his costumes have elevated films such as
“West Side Story” (Oscar nomination), “Harriet,” and “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” as well as
television events like “The Wiz Live!” (Emmy Award) and NBC’s “Jesus Christ Superstar Live.”
His aesthetic voice also resonates in the world of fashion. For the 2025 Met Gala, he collaborated closely
with Janelle Monáe and Thom Browne to create Monáe’s striking sculptural look — a seamless fusion of
form, identity, and theatrical design. That same evening, he partnered with eBay to craft a fully upcycled
ensemble for Chappell Roan: a pink patchwork suit and cape made from more than 830 leather pieces.
Though celebrated for his achievements in costume, Tazewell’s creative practice defies category. His
current work spans product design, interiors, publishing, and architecture — a multidisciplinary
approach grounded in storytelling, materiality, and the artisan’s hand. With upcoming projects across
fashion, home, and media, he continues to reimagine what it means to design with intention in the
digital age.
