Oak Lawn brothers literally have their acts together

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Brothers Reagan Pender (left), 16, and Shea Pender, 17, of Oak Lawn, both star in the role of P.T. Barnum in the Oak Lawn Park District's teen theater production of "Barnum," which runs through Feb. 19. | Brett Roseman~Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 17, 2012 8:03AM

The Oak Lawn Park District Theatre’s production of “Barnum” will hit the stage again this weekend, and brothers Shea and Reagan Pender have the leading roles.

There are two casts for the production, and both Shea, 17, and Reagan, 16, play the role of P.T. Barnum.

Reagan has the leading role Friday and Sunday, and Shea plays P.T. Barnum in Saturday’s production.

The boys’ younger brother, Casey, 10, also is in the play.

The play will be at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Oak View Center, 4625 W. 110th St. in Oak Lawn. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for seniors and children 12 and under. Call the box office at (708) 857-2200 for tickets.

The Pender brothers are no strangers to the stage, having been involved in the park district theater program since 2004, when both were munchkins in “The Wizard of Oz.”

“Since then, they have both been actively involved in the Broadway junior summer camp, our teen program, as well as our adult program,” said Erica Heilmann, director of “Barnum.”

Heilmann said both boys have improved their thespian skills over the years.

“Both boys have a wonderful God-given talent but have improved greatly over the years,” she said. “They are both such well-rounded actors. Their talent really shines in their current role of P.T. Barnum.”

The role calls for a strong male actor who can sing, dance and act.

“The role is both comedic and serious. He plays many jokes to the audience, breaking the ‘fourth wall,’ and even plays a clown at the start of Act II,” said Heilmann, the wife of Mayor Dave Heilmann. “However, the character also suffers the loss of his wife and the burning down of his precious American Museum. Both Pender boys play these moments with perfection.”

Shea, a junior at St. Rita High School, is accustomed to the leading role. He has played Joseph in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Bobby in “Crazy for You” and Billy in “42nd Street,” the Tin Man in “The Wiz” and Munkustrap in “Cats.”

He also has had leading roles in productions in the St. Rita and Mother McAuley high school theater programs.

“Shea is definitely a leading man,” Heilmann said.

Reagan’s resume is equally impressive. The St. Rita sophomore’s roles have included the Pharoah in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Zangler in “Crazy for You” and Nathan Detroit in “Guys and Dolls.” In the teen program, he played Rum Tum Tugger in “Cats.”

“Reagan shines in the comedic roles,” Heilmann said.

She added the Pender brothers are a “dream to work with.”

“They take direction, try new things and are always prepared. They have so much drive and dedication,” she said.

The boys’ mother, Liz, said both her sons love the stage and are willing to spend the time needed to perfect a role.

“I think this is more time-consuming than sports,” she said.

Both Shea and Reagan auditioned for the lead in Barnum, “which is horrifying for a mother,” she said.

But once they both won the role, she was able to relax.

“They just love it,” she said.