In 2024, a LinkedIn post recapping costume designer Isis Mussenden’s visit to campus, speaking with fashion and art students, caught the attention of alumna and freelance fashion writer Aleah Wright.
Wright messaged Kent State University Museum Director Sarah Spinner Liska through LinkedIn, asking if she would be interested in costume designer Paul Tazewell visiting the university.
With a desire for students, faculty, alumni and members of the Kent community to engage with the museum, utilizing it as a launch pad for ideas, Spinner Liska said yes to Wright’s offer.
“Opportunities spark opportunities,” she said. “When you’re working in the museum field, what you’re doing is you’re kind of putting things out there, and you sometimes don’t know what connections or ideas they spark.”
As Tazewell prepares to land in Kent for the second time following his 2017 visit, Spinner Liska and lead event coordinator Joanne Fenn are optimistic he will pave a “yellow brick road” for student creativity.
“I’m personally really hoping that students on campus will take inspiration from his journey — that someone from here, someone from our area, can go on to be the best in the world at what he does,” Spinner Liska said.
Tazewell, an Akron native, recently won an Oscar for his costumes in the “Wicked” movie, in addition to Emmy and Tony awards for “The Wiz Live!,” “Hamilton” and “Death Becomes Her.”
“Deep local roots that we’re also hoping will be showcased as part of the event that I think Paul is also really excited about as well,” Spinner Liska said.
Like Mussenden’s visit, Tazewell’s visit is part of the university’s Thomas Scratch Visiting Artist Series, an event series bringing artists to the university through the College of the Arts as well as the College of Architecture and Environmental Design, and made possible by university donor Chris Sullivan.
Tazewell’s visit will be similar to Mussenden’s visit, allowing fashion and theater students to have one-on-one conversations with him.
Before “An Evening with Paul Tazewell” on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m., Fenn said Tazewell will visit students in the Fashion Design Studio 1 course for two hours, offering feedback on their portfolios.
The following day, Tazewell will meet with theater students, providing similar observations.
“Paul seemed very excited about the opportunity to engage with students,” Spinner Liska said.
“An Evening with Paul Tazewell” will include a presentation on his career, a discussion moderated by Spinner Liska and Wright and a 30-minute question and answer session.
After the original venue reached full capacity for the anticipated 500 attendees, the event was moved to Cartwright Hall, allowing for 300 more attendees.
“We wanted to make sure that more students could attend, so it’ll be 800,” Spinner Liska said. “We’re also determining a location on campus to livestream it so additional students can hear the talk.”
Through visiting the museum’s website, those interested in attending can still reserve their free tickets.
For those unable to attend, starting Sept. 11 and lasting until Nov. 9, the museum will display Glinda and Elphaba’s original costumes worn by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in its lobby.
With the event being part of the museum’s 40th anniversary celebrations, Spinner Liska hopes students will continue to utilize the museum as a resource.
“We really see the museum as a platform for ongoing creativity, learning, exploration for research and engagement on campus,” she said.
Adriana Gasiewski is the general assignment editor. Contact her at [email protected].
