Paul Tazewell on the magic of 'Wicked' costume design : NPR
NPR • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Paul Tazewell, renowned costume designer for Wicked: For Good, draws inspiration from the magical transition in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, aiming to tell silent stories through costume that reflect character development.
- Tazewell made history as the first Black man to win an Academy Award for costume design with the first Wicked film, building on a career spanning over 30 years in Broadway, TV, and film.
- He chose to dress Elphaba in trousers to emphasize athleticism and power, especially with Cynthia Erivo's casting, linking the character's outsider status to themes of racial othering.
- Elphaba's signature black clothing symbolizes mourning and self-protection, reflecting her emotional isolation and connection
