The Edmonton-based husband and wife duo known as
LightningCloud has created a new version of the classic musical Grease. What makes this
Grease special is that it stars an entirely Indigenous cast, and has been reworked to reflect the Native experience.
Bear Grease has played at the Edmonton Fringe Festival as well as toured around Canada and the US.
And now for six performances only, New Native Theatre is presenting it at Gremlin Theatre in St. Paul. The parody hits the highlights of the original, and also incorporates other classic songs of the '50s, as well as rap, hip-hop, and Native-influenced sound. It's a fun mash-up of styles and cultures, but the best part was seeing more Native people than I've ever seen in a theater audience. There were several children in the audience on opening night, and it's so moving to realize that these kids (and grown-ups) are seeing people who look like them, who make references to their culture, singing and dancing and having fun performing in this American pop culture classic.
