National Arts Centre - Centre national des Arts Canada is our stage. Le Canada en scène.

Bear Grease

A LightningCloud production

Oct 12 - 13, 2023

Babs Asper Theatre 1 Elgin Street Ottawa Canada

Indigenous arts Music Rock Hip-hop Theatre

In-person event
English
Ages 13+
Approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes

Performance options	Start time	Language	Availability
Friday, October 13, 2023	11:00 am	English	sold out
Thursday, October 12, 2023	11:00 am	English	Seats available

Get ready for a jaw-dropping, toe-tapping spectacle! Bear Grease takes the 1978 musical, Grease, on an Indigenous joyride, with fashion that slays, humour that tickles your funny bone, and music that makes you groove! It's a rez makeover for the beloved characters, keeping the authenticity alive while adding a burst of cultural flair.

Buckle up for an electrifying experience that celebrates Indigenous cultures and dances its way into your heart—Bear Grease is a one-of-a-kind adventure you don't want to miss.

This event has passed

This event ended on: Oct 14, 2023

Adults & chaperones

1 Free adult per 15 students

Free admittance for special needs assistants

$ (HST included) for additional chaperons At the discretion of the National Arts Centre

Payment deadlines

3 weeks before the performance

Full payment is required by the payment deadline. The NAC reserves the right to cancel any orders submitted but not paid for by the payment deadline.

Seating

There are no reserved seats for NAC student matinee performances.

Instead of tickets you will receive a letter of admission and groups will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis at the performance.

The letter of admission will be issued upon receipt of full payment.

If you have any questions, please contact us at education@nac-cna.ca

Artists

Sandy Crystle Lightning

Sandy Crystle Lightning

Crystle Lightning, playing Sandy, is an Indigenous actress from the Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta and a Canadian Screen Award winner for Best Actress in a Drama Series in 2021. She began her show business journey at nine years old when the Lightning family moved from Canada to Los Angeles. There, Crystle landed her first lead role in the feature film 3 Ninjas: Knuckle Up, and she has been working in the industry ever since.

Crystle's film and television appearances include Yellowstone (Paramount+), Outlander (Starz), Trickster (CW), The Good Doctor (ABC), Rutherford Falls (Peacock), Ghosts (CBS), and recently the #1 series on Amazon Prime TV, Three Pines (Prime TV). This year, you will see Crystle Lightning in 1883: Bass Reeves (Paramount+), Spirit Rangers (Netflix), George R. R. Martin's Mary Margaret Road Grader (directed by Steven Paul Judd), and Fancy Dance (directed by Erica Tremblay).

Crystle Lightning is also the co-creator and star of the all-native hit musical Bear Grease, which puts an Indigenous twist on the 1978 classic Grease. She also makes her directorial debut in this production.

When not in front of the camera, Crystle is a hip-hop recording artist. She is a member of the award-winning group LightningCloud, which won Power 106's "Who's Next?" and Hot 97's "Battle for the Best." She has recorded with artists like Cypress Hill and Timbaland and has toured with legends like Kendrick Lamar, ASAP Rocky, and Nicki Minaj. Crystle lives in Treaty 6, Alberta, with her husband, son, and three dogs.

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Danny Henry “Cloud” Andrade

Danny Henry “Cloud” Andrade

Henry "Cloud" Andrade (Huichol/Wixárika), playing the role of Danny, is an actor known for his work in Yellowstone and Hey Viktor. He is also an Amazon #1 bestselling author and illustrator (Indigenous Legends, Extraordinary Natives from A to Z), a multi-award-winning recording artist with LightningCloud, and a former world record holder for "Longest Freestyle Rap." Cloud is the co-creator and writer of Bear Grease.

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Marty Teneil Whiskeyjack

Marty Teneil Whiskeyjack

Teneil Whiskeyjack (Saddle Lake Cree Nation), portraying Marty, is an award-winning actress known for her roles in DreamKeepers, Tribal, and Blackstone. Recently, she made her playwright debut with Ayita at the SkirtsAFire Festival. Teneil has been nominated for an Esquao Award, and her latest film, Hey Viktor, has just made its debut at the Tribeca Film Festival and TIFF this year.

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Rezzo Tammy Rae

Rezzo Tammy Rae

Tammy Rae (Whitefish Lake/Gift Lake Metis) is a recording artist and cultural educator with a degree in Native Studies from the University of Alberta. Tammy recently headlined Le Grand Ménage des Fêtes! with TV5Monde, broadcasted in over 200 countries. Some of Tammy's theatrical accomplishments consist of CIVIL BLOOD: A Treaty Story (Thou Art Here Theatre) and her dynamic performance as Rezzo in the smash-hit musical Bear Grease.

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Canuckie Rodney McLeod

Canuckie Rodney McLeod

Rodney McLeod (Frog Lake Nation) is an actor known for his work in Tin Star and Lost Face. He is also a martial arts instructor in Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu. Rodney makes his theatre debut as the lovable Canuckie in Bear Grease.

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Jan Skylene Gladue

Jan Skylene Gladue

Skylene Gladue aka Nipiy Iskwew (Beaver First Nation) is an actress known for her role in APTN's Merchants of the Wild. She is a fashion designer (Nipîy Iskwew Designs), motivational speaker (Magoo Crew), and burlesque dancer (Body Sovereignties, Spotlight Cabaret, Rubaboo Arts Festival). Skylene makes her theatre debut as the ever-deadly Jan in Bear Grease.

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Roger Bryce Morin

Roger Bryce Morin

Bryce Morin (Enoch Cree Nation) hails from Treaty 6, Alberta, and is an actor, vocalist, cultural educator, traditional drummer/singer, and storyteller. Bryce has taken the theatre world by storm with his performance as Roger in the all-star Indigenous hit musical Bear Grease. Some of Bryce Morin's theatrical achievements consist of CIVIL BLOOD: A Treaty Story (Thou Art Here Theatre) and IN-COR-RI-GO-BLE: The Legend of Thundervoice (Blythe Festival, University of Alberta).

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Frenchie Melody McArthur

Frenchie Melody McArthur

Melody McArthur (Big Stone Cree Nation) is a multi-award-winning pop-inspired R&B singer, songwriter, and actress from Treaty 8, Alberta. McArthur received the 2022 Indigenous Hip Hop Award for R&B Single of the Year, the 2022 Native American Music Award for Best Pop Recording, and the 2022 Indigenous Superstar Awards for Best Pop and Rising Star. In September 2021, McArthur's single Unceded hit #1 on the National Indigenous Music Countdown. She plays the fiery Frenchie in Bear Grease.

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Arty McFly Artson

Arty McFly Artson

Artson (Tarahumara/Rarámuri) is a Hip Hop Recording Artist and a member of the Style Elements Crew and the legendary Rock Steady Crew from El Paso, Texas. He is a 2017-2019 Native American Music Award Winner and the 2021 Indigenous Hip Hop Awards Winner for Best Music Video. Artson makes his theatrical debut as the cloud-walking Arty McFly in Bear Grease.

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Sonny Justin Giehm

Sonny Justin Giehm

Justin Giehm (Navajo/Diné) is a dancer, model, and actor (known for Jamestown and Ridiculous 6) based in New Mexico. Justin began dancing at a young age, teaching himself from YouTube and later teaching various styles of dance, including hip-hop. He became a member of Dancing Earth and performed in various shows, including the John F. Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts and Ordway Theater. Justin is currently cast as Sonny in Bear Grease.

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