When “The Wiz LIVE!” musical aired on NBC last fall, Demeatria Boccella immediately wanted to see its ornate costumes in person.
Now Pittsburghers will get that chance, too, when the “Costumes of The Wiz Live!” exhibition presented by FashionAFRICANA opens Friday and continues through Nov. 30 at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture.
The multimedia display features props and several costumes by Tony Award-winning designer Paul Tazewell. It also walks visitors through his creative process and the history of “The Wizard of Oz,” which marked its 75th anniversary in 2014, and “The Wiz,” its 1970s retelling. Some people will get the first look during an Emerald City-themed gala tonight at the center.
Pittsburgh is the only place to see costumes worn by the likes of Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige before the musical heads back to Broadway in spring. The exhibition also is timed to the 15th anniversary of FashionAFRICANA, which highlights the diversity and beauty of the African diaspora through fashion events and the arts. Ms. Boccella heads the organization.
“I reached out to the director of ‘The Wiz LIVE!’ to inquire if this was a possibility,” she says. “Through his phenomenal support and the support of Cirque du Soleil and NBC, it has come to fruition.”
Mr. Tazewell, who’s also the creative force behind the costumes in the Broadway sensation “Hamilton,” was flattered by her request.
“This kind of exhibition allows the viewer to walk around the costumes and just see the detail and the really quite amazing craftsmanship,” he says.
From 2003-06, Mr. Tazewell was an assistant professor in the costume department at Carnegie Mellon University.
One of his favorite creations is Glinda the Good Witch’s glistening gold gown, which is illuminated with fiber optics and LED lights. “I would have to say that’s probably one of the most involved costumes that I’ve ever designed.”
Another component of the exhibition is an educational curriculum targeting sixth- through eighth-grade students.
“We want to enrich the experiences of our youth and hopefully inspire them to want to learn more about careers in theater arts that I didn’t know existed when I was a child,” Ms. Boccella says.
“The Wiz” and “The Wizard of Oz” have a special place in some Pittsburghers’ hearts.
“Instead of playing house, we played ‘Wiz’ over and over. I was always the lion, my sister was Dorothy, and my brother was the scarecrow,” says Pittsburgh-based fashion designer and honorary gala chair Kiya Tomlin.
Her maternal grandfather, musician Bobby Tucker, worked with Quincy Jones to arrange the music for the 1978 film version of “The Wiz.” Attention to the live stage production showed Ms. Tomlin the movie’s impact.
“I started to realize that everyone sang and danced to the movie growing up. It’s a special part of everyone’s childhood,” she says.
Tonight, there will be a screening of the film version of “The Wiz” as well as informal modeling and musical performances by Kingdom People and Broadway artist Brynn Williams, Ms. Tomlin’s niece. A dance party with DJ Nate da Phat Barber will follow. FashionAFRICANA plans to hold other events throughout the exhibition’s run, including panel discussions and an Oz Ball costume party for Halloween.
“I just hope that this exhibition will make a difference,” Ms. Boccella says. “I think the city as a whole is excited about it.”
Sara Bauknecht: sbauknecht@post-gazette.com or on Twitter and Instagram @SaraB_PG.
First Published: September 17, 2016, 4:00 a.m.
