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Bear Grease © Rémi Thériault

Bear Grease

Shack Up for the Winter - Holiday Special

https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/35999

In-person event

December 10 - 14, 2024

View showtimes View showtimes

December 2024

Dec 11 2024

Today
7:30pm
Dec 12 2024

Tomorrow
7:30pm
Dec 13 2024

Friday
7:30pm
Dec 14 2024

Saturday
4:00pm - ASL Performance

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Babs Asper Theatre 1 Elgin Street Ottawa Canada

Tickets

Bear Grease

Dec 10 - 14, 2024

Babs Asper Theatre

Family programming Indigenous arts Music Rock Theatre Musicals Holidays

In-person event
English
≈ 110 minutes · With intermission

A LightningCloud production

Did you miss Bear Grease during its sold-out run at the National Arts Centre last year? Now’s your chance to see it in a whole new way! This unique, Indigenous take on the beloved musical Grease returns to the stage, and this time it’s bigger, brighter, and infused with the joy of the holiday season!

Bear Grease – Holiday Special adds a festive twist to the classic story you know and love. Expect all the humor, toe-tapping music, and lively dance numbers that made the original so captivating, along with a few holiday surprises that will leave you singing along to both familiar tunes and Christmas classics.

Don’t miss out on this magical opportunity to enjoy Bear Grease – Holiday Special. Whether you’re reliving the fun or experiencing it for the first time, this is a performance you won’t want to miss!

Reserve your tickets today and let the spirit of the holidays carry you through an evening of nonstop fun, laughter, and unforgettable music.

Note: The performance at 4 PM on December 14, 2024 will be American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted.

Learn more in the program notes ›

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https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/35999

In-person event

A LightningCloud production Did you miss Bear Grease during its sold-out run at the National Arts Centre last year? Now’s your chance to see it in a whole new way! This unique, Indigenous take on the beloved musical Grease returns to the stage, and this time it’s bigger, brighter, and infused with the joy of the holiday season! Bear Grease – Holiday Special adds a festive twist to the classic story you know and love. Expect all the humor, toe-tapping music, and lively dance numbers that made the original so captivating, along with a few holiday surprises that will leave you singing along to both familiar tunes and Christmas classics. Don’t miss out on this magical opportunity to enjoy Bear Grease – Holiday Special. Whether you’re reliving the fun or...

Artists

Director Crystle Lightning

Director
Crystle Lightning

Crystle Lightning 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.

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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. 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. 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).

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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, 2022 Native American Music Award for Best Pop Recording, and the 2022 Indigenous Superstar Awards for Best Pop and Rising Star. Recently McArthur hit #1 on the National Indigenous Music Countdown for her single Fires All Over Town, and has charted over 10 singles on the national syndicated countdown program since 2014.

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 no 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. Récemment, sa chanson Fires All Over Town s’est hissée au sommet du palmarès national de musique autochtone, et elle a classé plus de 10 chansons dans ce programme national depuis 2014.

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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 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 la comédie musicale incontournable, 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 in Bear Grease.

Rodney McLeod is the 2024 Okimaw Awards Recipient for the Jimmy Herman Creative Arts Award.

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 Bear Grease.

Rodney McLeod est le lauréat 2024 du prix Okimaw pour le prix des arts créatifs Jimmy Herman.

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Jan Skylene Gladue

Jan
Skylene Gladue

Skylene Gladue aka Nipiy Iskwew (Beaver First Nation) is an actress (APTN's Merchants of the Wild, The Revenant), award-winning filmmaker (Be the Light), model/award-winning fashion designer (Western Canada Week, International Hip Hop Awards), motivational speaker (Magoo Crew, Edmonton Oilers PSA, Nipiy Iskwew Consulting) and creator of the From Rez to Runway workshop and fashion show building up the confidence of our youth through fashion while empowering them to chase their dreams.

Skylene Gladue, alias Nipiy Iskwew (Première Nation de Beaver), est une actrice (Merchants of the Wild, The Revenant sur APTN), cinéaste primée (Be the Light), mannequin et créatrice de mode récompensée (Western Canada Week, International Hip Hop Awards), conférencière motivatrice (Magoo Crew, Message d’intérêt public des Oilers d’Edmonton, Nipiy Iskwew Consulting) et créatrice de l’atelier et défilé de mode From Rez to Runway, qui aide les jeunes à prendre confiance en eux grâce à la mode tout en les encourageant à poursuivre leurs rêves.

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Sonny Boy Justin Giehm

Sonny Boy
Justin Giehm

Justin Giehm (Navajo/Dine’) is a New Mexican dancer, model and actor known for his work in JAMESTOWN (PBS) and RIDICULOUS 6 (Netflix). He became a member of Dancing Earth in 2014 under Rulan Tangen, which lead to him being casted in JAMESTOWN which filmed in Europe, and in Doctor Atomic with Director Peter Sellars at the Santa Fe Opera.

Justin has performed in Between Underground and Sky World at Presidio and Dance Mission Theatre in San Francisco, CA and the historic Asolo Theatre in Sarasota, FL.

Justin Giehm (Navajo/Diné) est un danseur, modèle et acteur du Nouveau-Mexique, connu pour ses rôles dans JAMESTOWN (PBS) et RIDICULOUS 6 (Netflix). Il est devenu membre de Dancing Earth en 2014 sous la direction de Rulan Tangen, ce qui l'a mené à être casté dans JAMESTOWN, tourné en Europe, et dans Doctor Atomic avec le réalisateur Peter Sellars à l'Opéra de Santa Fe.

Justin a présenté des performances dans Between Underground and Sky World au Presidio et au Dance Mission Theatre à San Francisco, CA, ainsi qu'au historic Asolo Theatre à Sarasota, FL.

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Roger Raven Bright

Roger
Raven Bright

Raven Bright (Navajo/Diné) is an Indigenous contemporary artist that resides in the occupied Tewa land of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Raven comes to us from Dancing Earth Creations under Rulan Tangen and has a background experience of 15 years with the art of Breaking and Hip-Hop culture.

Bright is claimed by the Dibéłizhiní (Black Sheep Clan) of the Diné people. Raven creates connection to land, culture, and its people through the movement he offers. “Every step you take on the dance floor is a deep heart beat of our people. The steps ahead are already imprinted and it’s your destiny to follow and build upon them”.

Raven Bright (Navajo/Diné) est un artiste contemporain autochtone qui réside sur les terres occupées des Tewa à Albuquerque, au Nouveau-Mexique. Raven vient de Dancing Earth Creations sous la direction de Rulan Tangen et possède 15 ans d’expérience dans l'art du Breaking et de la culture Hip-Hop.

Bright est issu du clan Dibéłizhiní (Clan du Mouton Noir) du peuple Diné. Raven crée des liens avec la terre, la culture et son peuple à travers le mouvement qu’il offre. « Chaque pas que tu fais sur la piste de danse est un battement de cœur profond de notre peuple. Les pas à venir sont déjà imprimés, et c’est ton destin de les suivre et de les enrichir. »

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Butter Kean Buffalo (Winterhawk)

Butter
Kean Buffalo (Winterhawk)

Kean Buffalo aka Winterhawk (Ermineskin Cree Nation) is an Indigenous hip-hop and freestyle dancer from Maskwacis, Alberta. Winterhawk comes to us from Superfan Magoo’s Magoo Crew, where he has performed and traveled for 10 years. Winter loves putting a smile on people's faces and is a big believer that laughter is the best medicine.

Kean has studied at the Centre for Indigenous Theatre in Toronto and has performed on many stages, including Citadel Theatre, Toronto (Discovery).

Kean Buffalo alias Winterhawk (Nation Crie Ermineskin) est un danseur autochtone de hip-hop et de freestyle de Maskwacis, en Alberta. Winterhawk vient de l'équipe de Superfan Magoo, Magoo Crew, avec laquelle il a performé et voyagé pendant 10 ans. Winter aime mettre un sourire sur les visages des gens et croit fermement que le rire est le meilleur des remèdes.

Kean a étudié au Centre de théâtre autochtone de Toronto et a performé sur de nombreuses scènes, dont le Citadel Theatre à Toronto (Discovery).

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Marty Haley Robinson

Marty
Haley Robinson

Haley Robinson (Muskeg Lake Cree Nation/Filipinx) is a 2-Spirit actor, model, and content creator known for her work on ONLY YOU: An Animation Shorts Collection (HBO Max) and commercial work for Hyundai (YouTube). Haley speaks openly about their identity, their cultures, and the importance of representation in the media. They grew up loving musical theatre, dance, and singing. Their favourite musical is Wicked.

Haley Robinson (Nation Crie Muskeg Lake/Filipine) est une actrice, mannequin et créatrice de contenu 2-Spirit, reconnue pour son travail dans ONLY YOU: An Animation Shorts Collection (HBO Max) et ses publicités pour Hyundai (YouTube). Haley parle ouvertement de son identité, de ses cultures et de l'importance de la représentation dans les médias. Elle a grandi en adorant le théâtre musical, la danse et le chant. Son musical préféré est Wicked.

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Stage Manager Henry “Cloud” Andrade

Stage Manager
Henry “Cloud” Andrade

Henry "Cloud" Andrade (Wixárika) is an actor (Yellowstone, Hey Viktor), an Amazon #1 bestselling author and illustrator (Indigenous Legends, Moosebumpz), a multi-award-winning recording artist (LightningCloud), and a former world record holder for the longest freestyle rap (18 hours, 1 minute, 15 seconds). Cloud is also the co-creator, writer, and producer for Bear Grease.

Henry « Cloud » Andrade (Wixárika) est un acteur (Yellowstone, Hey Viktor), un auteur et illustrateur à succès sur Amazon (Indigenous Legends, Moosebumpz), un artiste enregistrement multi-récompensé (LightningCloud) et ancien détenteur du record du monde pour le plus long freestyle rap (18 heures, 1 minute, 15 secondes). Cloud est également le co-créateur, scénariste et producteur de Bear Grease.

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Lighting Technician Jeremy Echols

Lighting Technician
Jeremy Echols

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