Learn about Swan Lake Costume Designer Paul Tazewell

Costume designer Paul Tazewell is at the top of his field. He has designed for all types of productions, from the silver screen to the opera, and he has received multiple prestigious awards for his work. Paul even designed costumes for PNB’s very own Swan Lake! Read on to learn more about Paul, his process, and his work for PNB.

The Wiz Live! (2015) 

Working on The Wiz Live!, a live, televised performance of the 1975 Broadway musical, was a natural fit for Paul because he had prior experience; he had performed the title role and designed costumes for the show in high school! Fast-forward to 2015, Paul was designing for The Wiz Live! as a professional. These costumes were full of imaginative detail and show-stopping sculptural elements. In his words, “We’re creating a fantasyland that also is inspired by some of the imagery you’d see today… It’s the edgiest of high-fashion from now but in the world of the Emerald City.” While the costumes were fantastical, they also needed to be functional. The Wiz Live! was filmed in real-time, and the elaborate costumes and make-up had to handle quick changes just like ones for a stage production. As someone with deep roots in theater and dance, this was no problem for Paul, something you’ll see is a theme throughout his work. Another theme of Paul’s work is collaboration. Paul worked closely with the actors in The Wiz Live! so that their garments would reflect the unique elements that they each brought to their roles. Paul’s designs for The Wiz Live! were showstopping, and he was awarded an Emmy for the show. 

Take a deeper look at The Wiz Live! costumes here:

Hamilton (2015)

Most people are familiar with Hamilton, the hit musical written by Lin-Manuel Miranda inspired by hip-hop and show tunes. Paul worked with Lin-Manuel on In the Heights before Hamilton, and he was nominated for a Tony Award for that show. To begin the design process of Hamilton, Paul created a library of inspirational images, something he does frequently in his work. He chose some of John Trumbull’s 18th-century portraits, Kehinde Wiley’s satirical portraits, and the fashion designs of Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, and Jean Pual Gautier. As you can imagine from Paul’s inspirational images, he was creating a look inspired by the 18th century while reflecting a contemporary view of the characters. He says, “In order [to] resonate as strongly as possible, I thought it was important to get beyond our preconceived notions of these iconic figures while honoring how Lin had brought the story to light.” To accomplish this, Paul decided that the characters (with the notable exception of King George) wouldn’t wear powdered wigs. Additionally, Paul focused on making the costumes comfortable for the actors by designing looks that they could inhabit like their favorite jeans and t-shirt. Paul’s designs highlighted Hamilton’s fresh, current feel in an innovative but understated way. His work acquired critical acclaim, including a Tony award for Best Costume Design of a Musical. 

Take a deeper look at the Hamilton costumes here:

West Side Story (2021)

Most recently, Paul designed the costumes for Steven Spielberg’s film West Side Story. For the film, Paul started with inspirational images, as usual. This time, he studied Gordon Park’s color images and Bruce Davidson’s photos of the 1950s Brooklyn street gangs. Paul’s costumes for West Side Story demonstrate the differences between the two rival gangs (the famous, finger-snapping Sharks and Jets) while remaining accurate to the time period. In the film, the Sharks wear bright, warm tones, and their clothing is polished and professional; it’s aspirational. On the other hand, the Jets wear cool tones and casual jeans and t-shirts. Their clothes demonstrate an ease, a lack of care. This can be interpreted as a comfort in their environment, as they are native to New York, as well as a lack of hope for a better life. When designing the costumes, Paul says, “It was important for me to be clear about who these two communities are, what their contrasts are, and how they relate to each other within their shared space.” Paul received multiple award nominations for his costume designs in West Side Story, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design; he is the first black man to receive such a nomination.

Take a deeper look at the West Side Story costumes here: