BENTON TOWNSHIP — For a second year, The Mendel Center at Lake Michigan College and the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra will co-present “Piano Men — A Tribute to Elton John and Billy Joel” starring Craig A. Meyer and Donnie Kehr.

The show will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at The Mendel Center Mainstage.

Current Mendel Center Mainstage series members and SMSO 2018-2019 series subscribers can purchase tickets during a special pre-sale beginning 10 a.m. Friday, April 13. Tickets go on sale to the public beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 13.

“Last year’s partnership with Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra was a hit. Because of positive response, we’ve decided to follow up on that success this year with a show that will immerse the audience in the Grammy Award-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame magic of Elton John and Billy Joel,” said Mike Nadolski, executive director of The Mendel Center.

Broadway veterans Craig A. Meyer and Donnie Kehr will bring these legends of the piano and rock and roll world to life.

Those who attend can expect to hear the musicians’ well-known hits including “Piano Man,” “Crocodile Rock,” “Just the Way You Are,” “Rocket Man,” “You May Be Right,” “Saturday Night’s Alright,” “Movin’ Out,” and many more.

The SMSO, led by Maestro Robin Fountain, will provide orchestral accompaniment for Piano Men.

“We look forward to the opportunity to play the music of two towering creative figures of our time, especially in collaboration with such a superb group,” Fountain said.

Sue Kellogg, SMSO executive director, echoed this sentiment.

“Orchestral music is so versatile and adds such depth to melodies that we were thrilled to collaborate on this performance,” Kellogg said. “The audience will truly be swept away in this dynamic, interactive concert celebrating two giants of pop music.”

Craig A Meyer has traversed all four corners of the entertainment industry, making strong impressions in theater, film, television and music.

On Broadway, Meyer created the role of Clinton Badger in MGM’s classic “Meet Me in St Louis” and toured nationally in “Cats” as Skimbleshanks, The Red Caboose in “Starlight Express” and Mike Nulty in Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas.”

Television and film appearances include guest-starring roles on “Necessary Roughness,” “Will & Grace,” “Good Morning Miami,” “Family Law,” “General Hospital,” and “Fernwood 2nite,” as well as working with Alan Menken on Disney’s “Aladdin,” and with Tim Rice and Elton John on “The Lion King.” Film credits include “Leatherheads” with George Clooney and Renee Zellweger, “Joyful Noise” with Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah, and “Identity Thief” with Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy.

In music, Meyer has toured internationally and recorded with music legends Barry Manilow and Frankie Valli and has headlined for Princess Cruises around the world.

Throughout Meyer’s busy career, he was repeatedly approached about his striking resemblance to Elton John and his uncanny ability to sound like the rock and roll legend. Meyer was eventually persuaded to expand his repertoire and began impersonating Sir Elton John. Today, he is considered to be the best Elton John tribute artist in the market whose strong vocals, striking resemblance, and talent on the piano has audiences everywhere remembering when rock was young.

As an actor, Donnie Kehr created roles in landmark musicals “Jersey Boys,” The Who’s Tommy,” “Billy Elliot,” “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” “The Human Comedy” and others. His film credits include Clint Eastwood’s “Jersey Boys,” Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street,” and “Chaplin” with Robert Downey Jr. On television, he has guest stared in “House of Cards,” “Gotham,” and “Quantico.”

A musician and singer, Kehr as performed on two Grammy Award-winning albums for Best Theatrical Recording in 1993 for “The Who’s Tommy”’ and “Jersey Boys” in 2006. He recently produced the album “Comfortable” for Tituss Burgess, two-time Emmy Award nominee for “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.”

Kehr has been directing live concerts and theater for many years. His work includes each edition of the “Rockers on Broadway” concert series since 1993 and most notably the 15th Anniversary Reunion Concert of “The Who’s Tommy” featuring the entire original cast and band. Other notable events include The Opening Ceremonies for the 2009 JCC Maccabi Games at Madison Square Garden, the finale performance at the 2011 UN Women Launch Event in the UN General Assembly Hall, and 2013’s Motel Rasdell, winner of “Best Musical” at The Midtown International Theatre Festival.

Pre-sale tickets for current Mendel Center Mainstage Series members and Economic Club of Southwest Michigan Speakers Series members will be available 24/7 at TheMendelCenter.com and through The Mendel Center Box Office at (269) 927-8700, option 1.

The Mendel Center is located at 1100 Yore Ave., Benton Harbor.