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Some of stage and film's most memorable costumes have come from the mind of Paul Tazewell, and Chicagoans can get a closer look at how his unforgettable looks came to life when "Crafting Character: The Costumes of Paul Tazewell" opens at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry on January 19.
Tazewell recently made history as the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Costume Design on Wicked. He also won Tony awards for Death Becomes Her and Hamilton on Broadway, an Emmy for The Wiz! Live and he earned an Academy Award nomination for West Side Story.
This exhibition invites visitors behind the "seams" of Tazewell's career, tracing the imagination, research and craftsmanship behind some of the most recognizable costumes in modern film, Broadway and pop culture. It's a fashion show of sorts that reveals the creative process and storytelling behind each piece of clothing.
Just a few highlights include:
- From Wicked, Glinda's iconic pink bubble dress and Elphaba’s Emerald City dress
- The Schuyler Sisters' Winter's Ball gowns, the suits worn by Hamilton, Jefferson and Burr and King George III's ensemble from Hamilton
- Anita's vibrant yellow dress from Steven Spielberg's West Side Story film
- Janelle Monáe's Met Gala looks
The costumes are fabulous on their own, but the exhibit comes alive through narration, video, photographs and original sketches, as Tazewell himself guides visitors through his creative process. You see how character, movement, history and emotion shape each design.
The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry might seem like an unexpected home for a costume exhibition, but upon viewing it's clear Tazewell's designs sit at the intersection of art, engineering and cultural history, making this a must-see not just for theater fans, but for anyone curious about the creative process behind costume-making.
"At Griffin MSI, we believe that if you can see it, you can be it, and Paul and his work is a shining example of that notion," said Dr. Chevy Humphrey, Griffin MSI CEO and President. "Through this exhibition and his personal story, he shows how imagination can become reality. Following his ideas from creation to conception offers a spark of inspiration for the next generation of innovators and creators who visit the Museum every day."