BroadwayRadio Episode Summary

Title: Class Notes: Skylene Gladue (Bear Grease)
Host: Lauren Klasschenider
Release Date: July 13, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of BroadwayRadio's Flash Notes, host Lauren Klasschenider engages in an enlightening conversation with Skylene Gloudow, a multifaceted talent serving as both a costume designer and performer for the acclaimed all-Indigenous musical, Bear Grease at the St. Luke's Theatre. The discussion delves deep into Skylene's personal journey, her cultural heritage, the creation and evolution of Bear Grease, and the show's impactful tour across Turtle Island.

Skylene's Identity and Heritage

The conversation begins with Lauren exploring Skylene's dual names listed in the playbill. Skylene introduces her birth name and her Cree name, reflecting her profound cultural roots.

• Skylene Gloudow [00:45]:
  "My name that I was given at birth is Skylene Gloudow and the name that I go by now is Nipiaskwayu, and that's actually my Cree name. So I earned that name in a sweat lodge ceremony when I was just entering my sobriety when I went to treatment about 12 years ago. That name actually means water woman. And I was told I will spend the rest of my life learning the meaning behind that. And it's so true. It's so true."

Skylene proudly represents the Beaver First Nation from Treaty 8 territory in northern Alberta. She highlights the unique characteristics of her community and its significance within the cast of Bear Grease.

• Skylene Gloudow [01:32]:
  "I am a proud member of the Beaver First Nation tribe that is up in Treaty 8 territory in northern Alberta. So I'm actually the most northern person in the cast. We're all Woodland Cree, and the rest stretch all across the board all the way down into New Mexico."

Collaboration and Creative Team

Lauren inquires about Skylene's previous collaborations, to which Skylene shares her past experiences working with Crystal Lightning and their mutual connections within the industry.

• Skylene Gloudow [02:49]:
  "I've actually been in a few of Crystal Lightning's music videos and that's where I met Tammy, who plays Rezo. We were both in a music video. So that's the extent of my work prior to this."

The Visionaries Behind Bear Grease: Lightning Cloud

Lauren shifts the focus to the creators of Bear Grease, known collectively as Lightning Cloud. Skylene provides an insightful portrayal of Crystal Lightning and Henry Andrade, emphasizing their pivotal roles as mentors and visionaries.

• Skylene Gloudow [03:21]:
  "Crystal Lightning and Henry Andrade are a power couple sent from the heavens. They are the creators of Bear Grease, and they're our mentors, our coaches. They do absolutely everything from the backgrounds to the choreography to the writing, to actually teaching us how to act."

Skylene underscores the transformative impact of Lightning Cloud's mentorship, which propelled Bear Grease from a one-weekend project to a celebrated Off-Broadway sensation alongside giants like Hamilton.

• Skylene Gloudow [04:49]:
  "Four years ago, they believed in us to be in this show, and it was just supposed to be for one weekend. And the tagline is, could you imagine natives on Broadway? Fast forward to four years later, and here we are off Broadway right beside Hamilton."

Journey and Evolution of Bear Grease

The dialogue progresses to Skylene's personal journey with Bear Grease, highlighting her transition from a social media content creator and fashion designer to a central figure in the musical's creative and performative aspects.

• Skylene Gloudow [05:05]:
  "Prior to Bear Grease, I was a social media content creator, a fashion designer. I have Nipiaskway designs where I created a line called Nihioi, which means speak Cree."

She elaborates on her character Jan, mirroring her own vibrant personality, and details her gradual evolution into a costume designer and a solo performer within the show.

• Skylene Gloudow [06:20]:
  "I started designing my own costumes right from the get-go. As soon as I knew I wanted to be in here, I started sewing ribbons right on my poodle skirts. It just started kicking off, and everybody else started asking me to add ribbons or this to their leather coats."

Inception of the Musical's Concept

Lauren inquires about the origin of Greece as the central theme in Bear Grease. Skylene recounts the spontaneous yet profound inspiration that led to reimagining a classic musical through an Indigenous lens.

• Skylene Gloudow [07:16]:
  "Lightning Cloud were just chilling at home one day and Greece came on TV. They thought, could you imagine if this was native? They started messing around with the lyrics, singing 'Summer Snag,' and had a blast. Right there was the seed that was planted."

This creative spark was initially intended for youth engagement, evolving swiftly into a full-fledged musical that resonated powerfully with diverse audiences.

• Skylene Gloudow [09:29]:
  "We started a tour and we've been touring ever since, all across Turtle Island. We've gone to Vegas, performed on a yacht in Vancouver, L.A., Florida, and remote reserves in Canada."

Touring and Audience Engagement

Skylene discusses the adaptive nature of Bear Grease during their extensive tour, emphasizing the show's commitment to honoring local tribes and integrating regional elements into each performance.

• Skylene Gloudow [09:42]:
  "We like to pay homage to the tribes that we're visiting. The show always switches up our location, switches up last names depending on where we are. We incorporate them and acknowledge the land that we're on."

This thoughtful approach has fostered a deep connection with audiences, evidenced by heartfelt feedback and the swift sell-out of performances.

• Skylene Gloudow [10:15]:
  "I will always remember a Kookum coming up to us and saying, 'Thank you so much. I waited my whole life to see myself up on that stage.' It was such a special moment."

Cultural Impact and Representation

The episode underscores the profound cultural significance of Bear Grease, serving as a beacon of representation and resilience for Indigenous communities. Skylene reflects on the historical challenges faced by her people and the empowering platform the musical provides.

• Skylene Gloudow [11:00]:
  "We do this in honor of our elders. Our elders didn't have the luxury of running around on the streets like Olivia Newton John and John Travolta. We were in residential schools. To create this multiverse and be that representation for our elders, for our youth, for our people is truly a gift that I'm forever grateful for."

Conclusion

Lauren expresses her gratitude for Skylene’s insights and contributions, encapsulating the episode's essence of cultural pride, artistic innovation, and the enduring impact of Bear Grease.

• Lauren Klasschenider [11:34]:
  "I'm grateful to have been able to see it, hear your story, and have this time with you. So thank you."

The conversation concludes on a note of mutual appreciation, highlighting the transformative journey of Skylene and the Bear Grease ensemble.

Key Takeaways

• Cultural Revitalization: Bear Grease serves as a cultural renaissance, blending traditional Indigenous elements with contemporary artistic expressions.
• Mentorship and Belief: The unwavering support and mentorship from Lightning Cloud were instrumental in the show's unexpected success and growth.
• Representation and Impact: The musical provides vital representation for Indigenous communities, honoring elders and inspiring future generations.
• Adaptive Creativity: Bear Grease's ability to tailor performances to local tribes fosters deep audience connections and widespread acclaim.

Notable Quotes

• Skylene Gloudow [00:45]:
  "That name actually means water woman. And I was told I will spend the rest of my life learning the meaning behind that."

• Skylene Gloudow [03:21]:
  "Crystal Lightning and Henry Andrade are a power couple sent from the heavens."

• Skylene Gloudow [07:16]:
  "Right there was the seed that was planted."

• Skylene Gloudow [10:15]:
  "'Thank you so much. I waited my whole life to see myself up on that stage.'"

• Skylene Gloudow [11:00]:
  "To create this multiverse and be that representation for our elders, for our youth, for our people is truly a gift that I'm forever grateful for."

This episode of BroadwayRadio offers a compelling glimpse into the heart and soul of Bear Grease, showcasing the harmonious blend of tradition, innovation, and cultural pride that defines this groundbreaking musical.