“When Amy met Donny” at Epiphany Center for the Arts Dedicated to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Awareness

“When Amy met Donny” at Epiphany Center for the Arts Dedicated to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Awareness

Imagined Collaboration Between Amy Winehouse and Donny Hathaway Celebrating Their Lives


CHICAGO, IL – August 29, 2024 – Sally Blandon, founder of Tears Dry On Their Own productions, presents “When Amy met Donny,” a unique and inspiring musical tribute, now in its second year, on Thursday September 12, 2024, at Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607 – doors open at 5pm (golden hour), and show starting at 8pm.


When Amy met Donny, realistically performed by Sally Blandon (Amy) and Lester Jay (Donny) during National Suicide Prevention Week, as September is Suicide Prevention Month, not only celebrates the legacy and talents of Amy Winehouse and Donny Hathaway but intentional in raising awareness to substance abuse and mental health issues. Issues that these icons struggled with during their meteoric careers, brought to life in this collaboration that will take the audience on a journey through soulful sounds and heart rendering emotions.


Tears Dry On Their Own is also partnering with Solo Salon and Solo Headquarters [www.soloheadquarters.org/] for their 2024 raffle fundraiser via GalaBid, of which all proceeds will support local mental health provider, Haymarket Center [https://www.hcenter.org/], whose mission is to aide people with substance use disorders in their recovery by providing comprehensive behavioral health solutions.


Blandon, the brainchild behind Tears Dry On Their Own, is a first generation Hispanic, born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin, whose family emigrated from Nicaragua to escape war and uprisings. Blandon’s passion for music brought her to Chicago and earned a bachelor’s in Vocal Jazz Performance from Columbia College. Blandon is also the Early Childhood & General Music Program Director at Merit School of Music and spearheads, Music to My Ears, a school-based music program for deaf & hard of hearing children.


Chicago native Lester Jay is a sought-after performer and recording artist with a bachelor’s degree in vocal jazz performance and acting studies from Columbia College Chicago. Jay’s stage presence makes for a dynamic collaboration in “When Amy met Donny.” Jay has performed at Buddy Guy’s, Reggie’s Navy Pier, Chicago’s Blues Fest, and has collaborations with Grammy award-winning Shawn Hibbler, as well as television projects with Donald Lawrence and American Idol.


Epiphany’s Art & Entertainment programming is intentional in their support of women, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community and disability culture. Developer David Chase, who with his wife Kimberly Rachal, converted the former church into the now $15 million venue said, “Mental Health is very personal to me, whether striving to maintain a healthy balance with a positive mental attitude in all my endeavors, to supporting others with mental health challenges, both within my personal ‘community’ and that of Epiphany.”


Now in its second year, Tears Dry On Their Own: “When Amy met Donny,” [https://www.sallyblandon.com/] runs for one-night only. For tickets and further info visit: [https://epiphanychi.com/events/when-amy-met-donny/].

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