Singer and pianist Jason Ostrowski will return to Ithaca's Hangar Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 22, with “Bennie and the Rest,” a tribute to Elton John. The 7:30 p.m. show will pair him with three local musicians for an evening of John's songs and stories about the music.
The Hangar Theatre's event listing places the concert in its In Flight Entertainment series. Robert Keefe will play guitar, John White bass and Mark Joyce drums, according to a news release. The program includes “Tiny Dancer,” “I'm Still Standing” and “Rocket Man.”
Tickets are $35 for adults and $20 for students. The theater is at 801 Taughannock Blvd.; tickets are available through the Hangar's ticket page or at the door.
The Hangar first presented Ostrowski's tribute in January 2026. The theater said that performance drew a crowd despite a winter storm approaching Ithaca.
Ostrowski said he became an Elton John fan after seeing the musician perform with Billy Joel. While doing dueling-piano work in 2017, he began hearing from audiences that he sounded and looked like John at the piano. He said that experience helped lead to the tribute show.
Born and raised in Rochester, Ostrowski has performed versions of the show more than 300 times while working as a cruise-ship headliner, according to the release. His theater credits include a standby role in the 2006 Broadway revival of “Company,” a 2007 tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's “Whistle Down the Wind” and a tour of “Les Misérables” from 2011 to 2014.
The performer said his arrangements draw on the live versions of John's songs rather than only their recordings. He described the show as interactive and said audience members are welcome to sing and dance.
Ostrowski has also appeared in the television shows “Bull,” “FBI: Most Wanted” and “WeCrashed.” His original-music EP, “Rely On Me,” is available on streaming services, according to the release.
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