Bear Grease

Shack Up for the Winter - Holiday Special

Dec 11 - 13, 2024

Babs Asper Theatre 1 Elgin Street Ottawa Canada

Family programming Indigenous arts Music Rock Theatre Musicals Holidays

In-person event
English
Ages 13+
≈ 1 hour and 30 minutes with intermission

Performance options	Start time	Language	Availability
Wednesday, December 11, 2024	11:00 am	English	sold out
Friday, December 13, 2024	11:00 am	English	sold out

This performance is presented by NAC Indigenous Theatre.

Get set for an evening of laughter and Indigenized musical theatre at Bear Grease - Christmas Special. Crystle Lightning, Henry “Cloud” Andrade, and the Bear Grease crew are back with a festive spin on their previously sold-out show. Bring your singing voice and dancing shoes for some Bear Grease magic, holiday-style!

This performance will be followed by an optional 20 minute talkback.

Artists

Danny Bryce Morin

Danny 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).

Bryce Morin (Nation crie d’Enoch), vient du territoire du Traité n^o 6 (Alberta). Il est acteur, chanteur, éducateur culturel, batteur et chanteur traditionnel, ainsi que conteur. Bryce Morin a fait une entrée fracassante dans le monde du théâtre avec son interprétation de Roger dans la comédie musicale autochtone, Bear Grease. Au théâtre, on a pu le voir dans Civil Blood: A Treaty Story (Thou Art Here Theatre) et IN-COR-RI-GI-BLE: The Legend of Thundervoice (Festival Blythe, Université de l’Alberta).

Close
Sandy Melody McArthur

Sandy 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.

Melody McArthur (Nation crie de Bigstone) est une actrice, parolière et chanteuse de R&B d’inspiration pop plusieurs fois primée. Elle est originaire du territoire du Traité N^o 8, en Alberta. Sacrée meilleure artiste pop et étoile montante aux Indigenous Superstar Awards, elle a remporté le prix de la chanson R&B de l’année au concours international de hip-hop autochtone en 2022 et le prix du meilleur enregistrement pop de l’année aux Native American Music Awards. En septembre 2021, sa chanson Unceded s’est hissée au sommet du palmarès national de musique autochtone. Elle incarne la fougueuse Frenchie dans Bear Grease.

Close
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.

Tammy Rae (lac Whitefish/établissement métis de Gift Lake), qui joue Rezzo, est une artiste de studio et une éducatrice culturelle titulaire d’un diplôme en études autochtones de l’Université de l’Alberta. On a pu la voir dans l’émission Le grand ménage des Fêtes diffusée sur TV5 Monde dans plus de 200 pays. Au théâtre, Tammy Rae s’est distinguée dans Civil Blood: A Treaty Story (Thou Art Here Theatre) et dans le rôle de Rezzo dans la comédie musicale incontournable, Bear Grease.

Close
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.

Rodney McLeod (Première Nation de Frog Lake), qui joue Canuckie, est un acteur connu pour ses rôles dans Tin Star et Lost Face. Il est également enseignant de Muay Thaï et de jiu-jitsu. Rodney McLeod a fait ses débuts au théâtre dans la peau de l’attachant Canuckie dans Bear Grease.

Close
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.

Skylene Gladue, alias Nipiy Iskwew (Première Nation de Beaver), est une actrice connue pour son rôle dans Merchants of the Wild (APTN). Elle est styliste (Nipîy Iskwew Designs), conférencière motivatrice (Magoo Crew) et danseuse burlesque (Body Sovereignties, Spotlight Cabaret, Festival des arts Rubaboo). Skylene Gladue fera ses premiers pas au théâtre dans le rôle mordant de Jan dans Bear Grease.

Close
Sonny Boy Justin Giehm

Sonny Boy 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.

Justin Giehm (Navajo/Diné) est un danseur, modèle et acteur (apparu dans Jamestown et Ridiculous 6). Il habite au Nouveau-Mexique. Justin Giehm a commencé la danse très jeune en apprenant des chorégraphies sur YouTube pour finir plus tard par enseigner différents styles, dont le hip-hop. Il est devenu membre de Dancing Earth et s’est produit dans divers spectacles et salles, dont le Centre John F. Kennedy pour les arts du spectacle et le Théâtre Ordway. À l’heure actuelle, Justin Giehm joue Sonny dans la distribution de Bear Grease.

Close
Roger Raven Bright

Roger Raven Bright

Close
Frenchie Tesla Wolfe

Frenchie Tesla Wolfe

Close
Butter Kean Buffalo (Winterhawk)

Butter Kean Buffalo (Winterhawk)

Close
Marty Haley Robinson

Marty Haley Robinson

Close
Director Crystle Lightning

Director 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.

Sacrée meilleure actrice dans une série dramatique aux prix Écrans canadiens en 2021, Crystle Lightning est originaire de la Nation crie d’Enoch, en Alberta. Elle est entrée dans l’univers du spectacle à neuf ans, quand sa famille a quitté le Canada pour s’installer à Los Angeles. C’est là-bas qu’elle a décroché son premier rôle, dans le long métrage 3 Ninjas: Knuckle Up (Les trois ninjas se révoltent, en VF). Elle est restée devant des caméras depuis.

Au petit et au grand écran, on a pu voir Crystle Lightning dans Yellowstone (Paramount+), Outlander (Starz), Trickster (CW), The Good Doctor (Le bon docteur, en VR, ABC), Rutherford Falls (Peacock), Ghosts (CBS), et récemment dans la série vedette d’Amazon Prime, Three Pines (Le Village de Three Pines, en VF). Cette année, elle apparaîtra dans 1883: Bass Reeves (Paramount+), Spirit Rangers (Netflix), Mary Margaret Road Grader de George R. R. Martin (avec Steven Paul Judd à la réalisation) et Fancy Dance (réalisé par Erica Tremblay).

Crystle Lightning est également co-créatrice et vedette de la nouvelle comédie musicale à la distribution entièrement autochtone Bear Grease, qui ajoute une touche autochtone au classique Grease de 1978. Elle fera également ses premiers pas à la mise en scène avec cette production.

Quand elle n’est pas devant la caméra, Crystle Lightning est derrière le micro. Elle est membre du groupe primé LightningCloud, qui a remporté Who’s Next de la station Power 106 et la Battle for the Best de la radio américaine Hot 97. Elle a collaboré en studio avec des artistes comme Cypress Hill et Timbaland, et tourné avec des légendes telles que Kendrick Lamar, ASAP Rocky et Nicki Minaj. Elle vit sur le territoire du Traité n^o 6, en Alberta, avec son mari, son fils et leurs trois chiens.

Close
Stage Manager Henry “Cloud” Andrade

Stage Manager 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.

Henry « Cloud » Andrade (Huichol/Wixárika), qui joue Danny, est un acteur connu pour Yellowstone et Hey, Viktor!. Il est également auteur et illustrateur de livres à succès au classement d’Amazon; un artiste de studio plusieurs fois primé avec le groupe LightningCloud; et l’ancien détenteur du record du plus long rap improvisé. Henry Cloud Andrade est le créateur et l’auteur de Bear Grease.

Close
Lighting Technician Jeremy Echols

Lighting Technician Jeremy Echols

Close

Financial assistance

Arts Alive has limited financial assistance available to support schools who would not otherwise be able to participate in our school programming due to economic barriers. Schools in need may request financial assistance directly through the registration form, to help cover the cost of tickets to student matinees or applicable workshops offered by the NAC. Learn more

Join our email list for the latest updates!

Support Performing Arts Learning and Engagement!

Your donations through the NAC's National Youth and Education Trust help the NAC provide learning and engagement opportunities for all — from young children in the classroom, to artists, to the lifelong learner.

Support the Program

Learning and engagement at Canada’s National Arts Centre is made possible through the support of many generous individuals and organizations from across the country. Arts Alive is generously supported by the Azrieli Foundation, the Government of Nunavut, Canadian North, Calm Air, The River Philip Foundation, The Turnbull Family Community Building Foundation, and The Thomas Sill Foundation. Thank you also to Grant and Alice Burton, Canada Life, A Donor-Advised Fund at the Community Foundation of Ottawa, Friends of the NAC Orchestra, Donors to the NAC Foundation's Future Fund, The Janice and Earle O’Born Fund for Artistic Excellence, and the donors and sponsors of the NAC’s National Youth and Education Trust, the primary resource for youth and education funding at the National Arts Centre.

Was this information helpful?