Well, chang chang changity chang shoo bop, if it isn't everyone's favourite classic high school musical – with a twist.
Fans who know that Grease is indeed the word and who remain hopelessly devoted to all things John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John have a chance to experience the fun of the era, Indigenous style.
Bear Grease, an Indigenized take-off on the classic musical, is onstage at Massey Theatre this weekend, with shows on Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10 at 5 p.m.
The hip hop duo of LightningCloud – Crystle Lightning (Canadian Screen Award winner for Best Actress in 2021 for her work in Trickster) and MC RedCloud (former Guinness World Record holder for longest freestyle rap) are the creators, writers and directors of this Treaty 6 Indigenous remastered production.
It features an all-Indigenous cast and combines hip-hop, parody, improv and freestyle to offer a new historical perspective on the times.
"Representation matters," RedCloud said in a press release. "Grease is a classic, but during the '50s and '60s, we weren’t able to run around the streets like Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. We were getting shuffled into some nonsense and boarding school.”
Audience members are invited to come with their singing voices ready to rock'n'roll in an interactive evening of Indigenized musical theatre.
The touring production originated with the Enoch Cree Nation from Edmonton (Treaty 6).
Tickets are available online.
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
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