Established in 1976, the Akron Roundtable is a community forum that inspires and promotes dialog by presenting speakers who inform and educate listeners on diverse topics of importance to the region, the nation and the world. To date, more than 400 major corporate executives, writers, government officials, artists and civic leaders from around the country have shared their ideas with the region.

Each Akron Roundtable event will be recorded by media studies students working for the Z-TV television station, with guidance from PBS Western Reserve and Ideastream producers, offering a valuable, hands-on learning experience for the students. 

All AKRON ROUNDTABLE episodes are available to stream on-demand at PBSWesternReserve.org or the PBS App following their broadcast premiere.

Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Thursday, April 23, at 6 PM

Paul Tazewell, Paul Tazewell Costume Design

About the Speaker

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.

Paul Tazewellis a Kent State University Alumnus.