No, Bear Grease—currently running Off-Broadway at St. Luke’s Theatre—is not a gay version of the iconic high school musical set during P’Town Bear Week. It’s actually the New York premiere of the infectiously exuberant, all-Indigenous, loving parody remix of Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey’s 1950s-set classic, which has already played over 200 performances across North America. With the Pink Ladies becoming the Pink Aunties, Rizzo becoming Rezzo, and Danny and Sandy’s memorable “Summer Nights” (now “Summer Snaggin'”) spent at a powwow, not the beach.
Well-a, well-a, well-a, huh, tell me more, tell me more, do I hear you ask? Sure.
The production fuses eclectic live concert-style on-stage musical performances with recorded video elements, including a beautifully rendered reimagening of the movie’s animated opening titles sequence that introduces the cast and characters, along with various backstage comedy skits and spoof commercials. Although there is an over-reliance on these recorded elements, some of the videos are hilarious, and rather adult in their content—in keeping with the tone of the original musical—and they are all nicely produced by Dustin “Birdie” Vince. But the real magic happens when the cast is on stage. This company is viscerally thrilled to be performing in New York City, and the feeling is mutual as this talented ensemble delivers big rez energy throughout.
When it comes to the Grease-inspired numbers, the reworked Indigenous culture-related lyrics are smart and funny. While the score, by the show’s co-creators Crystle Lightning and Henry Cloud Andrade aka LightningCloud, brings in powwow beats and hip-hop elements such as with an imaginative number riffing on the 1950s Ipana toothpaste commercial featuring Bucky Beaver—”Brusha, brusha, brusha”—from the movie’s sleepover scene, performed by Jan (Skylene Gladue aka Nipîy Iskwew) and the Pink Aunties.
The two standouts are a profoundly moving, soul-soaring Round Dance take on “Hopelessly Devoted” powerfully performed by Bryce Morin as Danny on vocals and hand drum, and “Wichihin”, a gorgeous, heart-melting Cree Nêhiyawêwin language version of the perennial 60s R&B ballad “Stand By Me” passionately delivered by Tammy Rae as Rezzo. Another highlight is an electrifying freestyle rap performed by Henry Cloud Andrade improvising with phrases submitted by the audience before the show. According to his Playbill bio, Andrade is a former World Record holder for the longest freestyle rap (18 hours). Also check out the Playbill for a Bear Grease glossary of Indigenous terms used in the show. Bear Grease itself is defined as “traditional North American medicine made from bear fat – sacred and powerful.”
As director, Lightning makes dynamic use of the limited playing space, with some high-energy choreography that means it is impossible not to tap your feet and clap along. There is great chemistry between Morin as Danny and Melody McArthur as Sandy and this appealing cast—including Allyssa Trujillo as Foxy, Rodney Mcleod as Canuckie, Justin Giehm as Sonny Boy, Raven Bright as Roger, Haley Robinson as Marty, and Mikey Harris as Butta—hit all the right notes.
This show is high-spirited, irreverent and a lot of fun, but alongside the laughs there is a deeper message thanks to the framing device that places the action in Manhatta, the heart of the Lenape Nation, in an imagined alternate United States, one that was never colonized. “Genocide was intercepted. Infanticide as well rejected. The colonization of Indigenous peoples was ejected quickly once detected”, conjures the opening filmed segment. It is especially poignant given the 1950s setting of Grease, an era when the US government was enacting Termination and Relocation policies and before the voting rights of Indigenous people had been federally addressed by the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
A vibrant love letter to Indigenous cultures, Bear Grease brings something invigoratingly fresh to Off-Broadway and makes for a special night out in the city.
By James Kleinmann
Bear Grease officially opened at St. Luke’s Theatre (308 West 46th Street, New York) on Friday, June 20th and runs in a limited engagement through Sunday, July 27th, 2025. For more details and to purchase tickets head to BearGreaselive.com.
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