Firestone Senior, Oscar Winner Share Stage

It’s rare someone gets to meet a real-life hero. But a Firestone CLC senior was given that opportunity last week.

Troy Weiss, an aspiring fashion designer, met one of his heroes: Oscar-winning costume designer Paul Tazewell during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show in New York City. The program was taped last Thursday and aired the next day, Friday, November 22.

He didn’t have a clue that the meeting was pre-arranged by the show’s producers.

Troy was just thrilled that he was invited to be on the show. The show flew him and his mother to New York for the taping. The theme was Wicked, since it was the premiere showing of the movie, “Wicked For Good,” a sequel to the movie “Wicked.”

Troy who enjoys being in the spotlight was in his moment.

Dressed in Wicked theme colors, green, black and pink, Troy was confident, sassy and entertaining.

Opening up to Clarkson he said he was always into fashion, but went through what he called his “morbid” time, K-8th grade, when he had to wear uniforms to school and couldn’t express himself. It’s when he started Akron Public High School at Firestone that opened opportunities for his creativity. He had the freedom to be that ‘creative guy’ who was always there.

“The hallway was my runway,” he said, referring to his school. “I wanted people to know my name.”

He wanted to be noticed, he said he had many looks and wanted to express them all. He said even now students and teachers ask him for fashion advice - even as simple as if a color or style looks good on them.

He told Clarkson he likes to stay busy as he ran down a list of his school activities including the president of Black Students Union, president of the symphonic choir, member of NHS, varsity track and varsity bowling.

Clarkson walked away, shaking her head, overwhelmed by his list of activities, simply saying “I showed up (for high school) and I graduated.”

She asked him about Wicked since the movie opened in the box offices that day. 

He boasted about Paul Tazewell also being an Akron native and an inspiration to him, leaving his designing footprint in the Wicked movies. The costumes in the Wicked movie earned Tazewell the Oscar.

Troy was very familiar with Tazewell’s work.

“He is a staple of my life. He sees fashion through a lens that is similar to mine. He is very individual; he understands that fashion is a language and clothes say so much without saying a thing. He really sticks close to my heart,” Troy said. “I love WIcked and I love the costumes so much. There is intentionality in even the smallest pieces from the textures to the colors, cuts and themes. He communicates his themes so well, whether it’s from the Raisin in the Sun, Hamilton or the Color Purple he always hits the nail on the head.”

The Introduction:

“We have a surprise for you,” Clarkson told Troy.

Never skipping a beat, Troy curiously asked, “What’s the surprise?

“There’s someone I want you to meet.,” she said.

When Troy saw his idol walk out on stage, he stood up and was all smiles. The look on his face was priceless.

Troy, who is quite the talker, was speechless. He bowed a couple of times to his idol and then hugged him..

“You’ve seen what Troy can do, what do you think? Clarkson asked Tazewell.

“He’s amazing. I am blown away, just the way you present yourself and the way you communicate,” he told Troy. “You’re a lot further ahead than I was at your age. Being okay in your own skin….knowing how to take up space in this business.”

Still in disbelief, still not saying much, Troy kept repeating, ”my soul is rejoicing.”

Another surprise:

Tazewell also gave Troy tickets to the Broadway musical play, “Death Becomes Her.“ Tazewell designed those costumes as well, creating glamorous costumes for the musical using sparkle and beaded gowns for design elements.

On Friday there was a watch party at Firestone to see the television segment, about 50 students attended. Students and staff also dressed or accessorized in pink and green keeping the Wicked theme colors going.

Troy’s mother, Veronica Neal, who also traveled to New York with him, said Troy was excited and nervous about the trip. 

“He had no idea he was going to meet Paul Tazewell,” said Neal, who was also surprised at Tazewell’s presence.

Neal admitted that she was apprehensive about the invitation, thinking it could be a scam. She googled every producer of the show who had called, and checked their names in LinkedIn to make sure they were all legitimate people.

Neal, the mother of five, had the same reaction, asking “wait, what, who called? He’s going to be on television?"

She said it was a process, everyone helped out.

“It took a village,” she said. “Troy has always been well known and well liked at his school. I love that they helped celebrate him at the watch party and Troy being Troy commented on each detail of the show.

“Troy has always been a student leader and always been a talker. He really is the life of the party, a social butterfly. His interest was always singing but he really developed his passion for fashion designing in high school.”

He is in the Performing Art Academy, a part of the Theater Pathway. “He is always dressed to impress.”, said teacher Megan Meyer, who described him as an “energetic and empathetic young man who does everything at 100 percent. The other students look to him as a role model and I feel that he is a great example of who a Firestone Falcon should strive to be.”

Troy plans to attend Kent State University and major in fashion design and join the National Guards. He says he’s not interested in stage play or Broadway, but he’s still open minded.

“We are so humbled for the opportunity Troy had to be on the Kelly Clarkson show. It was an amazing experience,” she said. “And who knows what the future holds, Miss Clarkson said once you’re on her show, you are part of the family.”

Troy Weiss and his mother, Veronda Neal in New York City's Times Square

Troy Weiss at Firestone CLC giving play by play of the tv segment

Troy Weiss at the Broadway musical Death Becomes Her