Go behind the scenes with Paul Tazewell, the Oscar, Emmy and Tony-award winning costume designer behind films Wicked and West Side Story, Broadway’s Hamilton and Death Becomes Her, and TV’s The Wiz Live! and Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert. Hear insights into his creative process and the artistry behind his iconic designs.

Have a question for award-winning costume designer Paul Tazewell? Share it here for a chance to have it answered during the live conversation on May 14. Questions may be selected for the event and help guide the discussion on his creative process, career, and work across film, television, and Broadway.

Presented by Kenyon College, the Kenyon College Office for Community Partnerships, the Mount Vernon Arts Consortium, MTVarts, and the Woodward Opera House

About Paul Tazewell:

Paul Tazewell has profoundly impacted theater, film, and television over three decades with his innovative and inspired approach to costume design. Renowned for visually stunning costumes, his work enhances both storytelling and character development.​ 

Paul's recent achievements include winning an Academy Award for Best Costume Design for his work on Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu and featuring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. This accolade was accompanied by a BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design, a Critics Choice Award, the Costume Designers Guild's Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film award, NAACP Image Award and the Innovator Award from the African American Film Critics Association, underscoring his critical role in bringing the fantastical world of Oz to life. Additional accolades include an Academy Award nomination for West Side Story in 2021, an Emmy for The Wiz! Live, and recognitions for his contributions to Harriet, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.

On Broadway, his work continues to shape contemporary theater. His costumes for Death Becomes Her — currently on Broadway — earned him a Tony Award, while his designs for the 2024 production of Suffs garnered a Drama Desk Award and a Tony Award nomination. His revolutionary designs for Hamilton won him a Tony Award in 2016, further cementing his influence on theatrical costume design.

​Throughout his career, Tazewell has earned multiple Lucille Lortel Awards, Helen Hayes Awards, and additional accolades from the Costume Designers Guild. His dedication is also evident in his collaborations with The Metropolitan Opera, The Bolshoi Ballet, and The English National Opera.

​Educated at New York University and the North Carolina School of the Arts, Tazewell has shared his expertise as a guest artist at these institutions and served on the faculty at Carnegie Mellon University from 2003 to 2006.

​Based in New York City, Tazewell continues to inspire and shape the future of costume design, bringing life to a rich tapestry of characters through his artful and intricate designs.