How to Dress Like The Greatest Showman (P.T. Barnum)
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Best P.T. Barnum Halloween Costume Guide
PT Barnum was an American entrepreneur and showman in the 1800’s, with a career involving museums, hoaxes, human curiosities, and circus performances. In 2017 a movie called The Greatest Showman was released, starring Hugh Jackman in the role of PT Barnum, although the film was only loosely based on the real-life exploits of Barnum.
In the film, we see glimpses of his wide-ranging career, as it focuses mainly on his museum ownership and employment of ‘freaks’ to draw in audiences, his work as a circus showman, and his promotion of Swedish singer Jenny Lind for an American tour. We also see his life as a family man with his wife Charity and their two daughters, and the effect his globe-trotting lifestyle has on his family. If you want to transform into the world’s greatest showman, you’ll need to get yourself a Circus Outfit, Black Dress Shoes, Walking Cane, Gold Ribbon and a Rusty Walls Sign Shop.
P.T. Barnum Cosplay Costumes
While the real PT Barnum may have a somewhat darker history, in the name of good cinema, we don’t need to focus on that right now. What we want is the singing, dancing and acting superstar Hugh Jackman portraying one of history’s greatest showmen. The 2017 film was hugely popular with audiences, so you know you’ll be noticed if you attend your next event dressed as Jackman’s portrayal of circus legend PT Barnum.
This costume is perfect for combining with friends too. Get everyone involved, and have your pals join you as playwright Philip Carlyle (as played by Zac Efron), or Barnum’s wife Charity, as played by Michelle Williams. We would love to see photos if you run away to join the circus in this great PT Barnum costume, so don’t forget to upload your photos here to our 2023 Costume Contest!
About P.T. Barnum
In the 2017 film The Greatest Showman, PT Barnum is played by the multi-talented Hugh Jackman, who brings to the big-screen this character who was both loved and hated throughout his career. In the film, we meet Barnum as a young circus performer and get a glimpse of how he met his future wife Charity as a young boy. Barnum purchases his first museum after losing his dreary job as a clerk, and after poor sales to see the museum’s wax sculptures, he decides to bring human ‘freaks’ into the show to boost sales.
While taking his circus on tour to the UK, he meets Swedish singer Jenny Lind and brings her to America, promoting her tour and becoming alienated from his old performance troupe as he wines and dines with the upper class of society. After losing everything, he realizes what is most important, and he rebuilds his original circus before handing control to playwright Philip Carlyle so that he can spend time with his family.
