By Abby Luciano, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter NORTH SHORE NEWS

B次元官网网址淪ummer snagging, happened so fast, summer snagging, had me a blast.B次元官网网址�

Just over three years ago, Crystle Lightning and her husband MC RedCloud sang this to each other on the couch as they watched the hit musical Grease on TV. In that moment, an idea sparked B次元官网网址� to create an Indigenous version of Grease to celebrate their identity and culture.

B次元官网网址淕rowing up, I didnB次元官网网址檛 see people like me in popular culture,B次元官网网址� Lightning said. B次元官网网址淲e created this show as a way to celebrate our identity and have some fun with one of our favourite musicals.B次元官网网址�

Bear Grease is an all-Indigenous production that blends the 1978 original hit with adding cultural elements through fashion, music and humour. The musical blends 1950s sound with traditional drumming, flute and hip-hop elements.

This includes skirts with bears and ribbons on them, beadwork fashion and adding Indigenous artwork on leather jackets, Lightning said.

But this version of Grease is a bit different, showing a B次元官网网址減arallel universeB次元官网网址� if colonization never happened and creating opportunities for Indigenous actors.

B次元官网网址淥ur reality for Indigenous people in the B次元官网网址�50s and B次元官网网址�60s was a lot different than John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John,B次元官网网址� Lightning said. B次元官网网址淲e didnB次元官网网址檛 have those types of opportunities.B次元官网网址�

But Lightning also wanted to create a musical that isnB次元官网网址檛 trauma-based, showing the positive and fun side of Indigenous identity.

The production originally was meant to be a one-time show at the Edmonton Fringe Festival in 2021, but now has toured across Canada and the United States after its popularity.

Lightning began acting at only nine years old, when she and her mother moved to Los Angeles from Enoch Cree Nation, near Edmonton, Alta.

She began acting in film and television and landed her first lead role in 3 Ninjas: Knuckle Up. Lightning has also appeared in The Good Doctor, Ghosts and Fancy Dance.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important for people to see Indigenous people are funny, we have talent,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e can recreate and have a corrective experience for our elders.B次元官网网址�

Bear Grease B.C. dates include North VancouverB次元官网网址檚 Centennial Theatre on Nov. 8, TrailB次元官网网址檚 Bailey Theatre on Nov. 15, and CranbrookB次元官网网址檚 Key City Theatre on Nov. 16.