Firestone Community Learning Center senior Troy Weiss experienced a dream come true when he was flown to New York City by The Kelly Clarkson Show to meet Oscar- and Tony-winning costume designer Paul Tazewell, the Akron native behind the dazzling looks of Wicked: For Good and Hamilton.
The 17-year-old theater student, who serves as Firestone’s senior class president, thought he was simply invited to discuss Tazewell’s influence on his personal fashion sense. Instead, he was surprised on-air with an introduction to the celebrated designer himself.
“I had to compose myself,” Weiss said after the emotional encounter. “There’s a lot of similarities in the way we see things in fashion.”
A Style Inspired by Wicked
For his television appearance, Weiss curated an outfit inspired by the green-and-pink palette of Wicked. He wore his stepfather’s emerald-green wedding suit, paired with a pink shirt and a lion brooch — a nod to Tazewell’s vibrant color storytelling.
“Kelly’s team was super-amazing, and there were endless compliments on the sophistication of how I dressed myself and the way I carried myself,” Weiss shared. “It was such a beautiful experience.”
His look caught the attention of both Kelly Clarkson and Tazewell, who praised Weiss for his creativity and confidence on set.
A Surprise Meeting with His Idol
The teen had long admired Tazewell, a 1982 graduate of Akron’s Buchtel High School. Tazewell made history in March as the first Black man to win an Academy Award for Best Costume Design, adding to his 2016 Tony Award for Hamilton.
After their televised meeting, Weiss and his mother spent time with Tazewell backstage. The designer described Weiss as “graceful” and gifted the pair tickets to see the Broadway musical Death Becomes Her, for which he also designed the costumes.
“The costumes were superb, and every actor was on point,” Weiss said. “From their singing to their acting to their delivery — it was just amazing to watch.”
A Memorable Day in New York
Weiss said the whirlwind trip felt like “one short day in the Big Apple,” a fitting reference to Wicked’s most iconic song. The Firestone senior, who studies theater and vocal performance, hopes to follow in Tazewell’s footsteps by blending storytelling with design in his future career.
“Meeting Paul Tazewell was a dream,” Weiss reflected. “He’s proof that someone from Akron can make it big in the arts — and do it with grace.”
Tazewell’s latest project, Wicked: For Good, opened in theaters on November 21, 2025, continuing his legacy as one of Broadway and Hollywood’s most visionary costume artists.
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