Paul Tazewell, a devout native of Akron, continues to grace his trophy case with prestigious awards. On the evening of June 8, he added a Tony Award to his accolades, specifically for Best Costume Design of a Musical. His exceptional talent came to life through the comedy musical adaptation of the 1992 movie, ‘Death Becomes Her,’ originally featuring stars such as Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Bruce Willis. Since November 2024, the musical has been a chart-topper at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Broadway, starring luminaries like Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, Christopher Sieber, and Destiny’s Child’s iconic vocalist, Michelle Williams.
The comedy musical stood a chance to gain ten Tony Awards that Sunday night, proving its worth in the industry. As the spotlight settled on the charismatic and gracious Tazewell, gleefully clutching his Tony, his sense of accomplishment shone visibly. He replied, overwhelmed by the recognition and joyous for his fruitful year, expressing the thrill and blessing it was to have such unparalleled design opportunities offered to him.
When Tazewell was in the process of crafting the costumes, his motivation wasn’t recognition from awards. Rather, his joy stemmed from passionately crafting a narrative through costume design. Creating this fantastical world that would encapsulate the essence of humor, maintain an adequate reflection of the cinematic original, and simultaneously surpass it, was his primary driving factor. The Tony’s acknowledgment of his commendable work was, in his words, ‘heartwarming and exciting.’
In the 2025 Tony Awards, Tazewell faced stiff competition from elite costume designers like Clint Ramos for ‘Maybe Happy Ending,’ Gregg Barnes from ‘BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical,’ Dede Ayite for ‘Buena Vista Social Club,’ and Catherine Zuber for ‘Just in Time.’ Nonetheless, this recognition wasn’t his initial brush with the coveted Tony Award. The Buchtel alumnus had previously been honored in 2016 for his outstanding work in ‘Hamilton’ and had even bagged an Emmy for his contribution to ‘The Wiz Live!’ on NBC, the same year.
His prodigious talent had further won him Oscar’s approval earlier this year for his adept costumes in the colossal film ‘Wicked.’ This marked his inaugural Oscar for costume design, a crowning achievement in his illustrious career. At 60 years old, Tazewell spent an exhaustive 1.5 years perfecting the counterpart of the costumes for the film, with most of his creative process unfolding in the London area.
In this reputable film, Cynthia Erivo graced the screen as Elphaba, and the musical sensation Ariana Grande brought Glinda to life. Collectively, the film was an Oscars favorite with ten nods, speaking volumes about the talent and hard work vented into the production. While accepting his Oscar, the jubilant designer didn’t hold back his pride in bearing the honor of being the first Black man to prevail in the costume category. The uproar of applause and standing ovation echoed his sense of accomplishment and progression.
Lifting his Oscar trophy high amidst the roar and admiration, Tazewell’s powerful utterance of ‘This is everything. Thank you.’ will resonate as one of the most memorable victories in costume design’s history. His journey from pouring his heart into creating costume narratives at the drawing table to winning prestigious awards marks an exemplary tale for upcoming designers. His consistent demonstration of dedication, drive, and dreams serves as a beacon of possibility and achievement in the realm of costume design.