A number of musical offerings are available in the Big Bear Valley this week, including four performances of “The Wizard of Oz” at the Big Bear Lake Performing Arts Center through Sunday. The Community Arts Theater Society presents the popular musical starring local favorites with showings at 7:30pm today (July 1), tomorrow and Friday, and a 1:30 matinee on Sunday. On Friday evening, the high-energy Cajun country band the Doo-Wah Riders perform at the outdoor amphitheater of the Big Bear Discovery Center. Gates open at 5:30pm for the 7pm performance; attendees are encouraged to bring beach chairs to the outdoor show. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for teens, and proceeds benefit Forest Aid and the Lighthouse Project’s Peace Gardens at local elementaries. Patriotic favorites will be featured in the annual, free concerts billed as a Tribute to America and Our Veterans, which feature the Bear Valley Community Chorus, in two performances at North Shore Elementary School this week. On both Friday and Sunday, the 11th annual Tribute to America begins at 7pm at North Shore, located on Stanfield Cutoff. On Saturday, the Fourth of July, “Jukebox Hero” Lou Gramm of Foreigner takes to the stage at Swim Beach for a special, one-night-only performance to benefit the Teen Center. Ticket prices for the Lou Gramm show at Swim Beach range from $25 to $35 pre-sale, available through the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District. The Lou Gramm concert is lakeside at 6:30pm, and Swim Beach also makes for a great setting to view the fireworks show over Big Bear Lake, which will be synchronized to patriotic music on KBHR 93.3 FM.
