New Times / Hot Dates

Sick trick flick

It has been years in the making. Monument Board Shop in Arroyo Grande presents their seminal skateboarding film titled Monumental, with a debut screening at Downtown Brew in SLO on Jan. 4 at 6 p.m. All ages are welcome to attend, win some gear, and get a copy of the film. 21-year-old skater Shane Marriott filmed and edited the footage and spoke with New Times. “Monument and its skate team wanted to make a [skateboarding] video for a long time. The film contains eight different parts with eight different skaters. We filmed everywhere: from San Diego to S.F. It’s half an hour in length with great music: older metal, Beatles, Van Morrison.” Monument Board Shop is dedicated to the lifestyle and culture of surfing, skateboarding, music, and art. Get your tickets at Monument, 1402 Grand Ave. in the Applebee’s shopping center in Arroyo Grande, at Boo Boo’s, or at the event. King Cheese (Ben Cabreana’s band) and Afterall will perform at the event. Monumental features skaters Ben Cabreana, Shane Marriott, Justin Martinez, Austin Condon, Nick Walters, and more showcasing their skateboarding talent as well as the lifestyle that undeniably goes along with it. Shane Marriott and Justin Martinez are pictured. $5. Downtown Brew is located at 1119 Garden St. Info: 473-1144 or 543-1843.

Jesus rocks…the opera!

The groundbreaking theatrical masterpiece by legendary writing team Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice is coming to San Luis Obispo, and Ted Neeley—the star of the influential Norman Jewison movie by the same name—reprises his pivotal role as Christ. Popular Las Vegas headliner James Delisco stars in the complex role of Judas. The first collaboration between Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, Jesus Christ Superstar is one of the world's most popular and enduring musical theater pieces: the rock opera vision of “the greatest story ever told.”

With a score featuring such notable songs as “Superstar,” “Everything’s Alright,” and “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” Jesus Christ Superstar tells the story of the final seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. A pre-show lecture by Cal Poly music professor Alyson McLamore will be held in the Gallery Level Lobby of the Performing Arts Center at 6 p.m. Jesus Christ Superstar comes to the PAC in SLO on Jan. 6 at 7pm. Info: 756-2787, 1-888-233-ARTS, or calpolyarts.org.

Did you ever see a dream sing?

That is what Norman Lear asked about her. Mos Def touts her talent and loveliness as well. The subject of all of this hype is the unstoppable top-ranked poet, musician, and actress Gina Loring. The Cal Poly MultiCultural Center's "Another Type of Groove: Spoken Word Poetry" welcomes Loring to the Chumash Auditorium on Jan. 7 at 7:30 p.m. Loring, the 2002 National Poetry Slam's top-ranking female poet and featured artist on two seasons of HBO's “Def Poetry,” describes her influences as ranging from Nina Simone to classic hip hop and from Sylvia Plath to Sonia Sanchez. Loring's poetry touches on subjects such as love, spirituality, and social activism. She was a 2007 cultural envoy to the American Embassy in Kuwait and has worked as a writer and performer on Lear's

“Declare Yourself” tour (which urges young people to vote). Info: 756-1405 or ginaloring.com or multicultural.calpoly.edu.