Jill Blalock Lord began her professional career as an opera singer, performing with such companies as San Francisco Opera, Ft. Worth Opera, New Jersey Opera and Augusta Opera. She also toured extensively across the U.S., Spain, and France.  Mrs. Lord’s life took a turn after the birth of her children, Emma and Grace. Life on the road was no longer appealing, so she looked to pursue her passion closer to home, and thus OhLook was born. Through OhLook, she hoped to create a place where students could come and learn about theater and music in a safe, noncompetitive environment, and to teach and facilitate those that might be interested in pursuing it as a career. Singer turned Director, Jill was named Best Director for Ohlook’s production of Dog Sees God at the AACT National Conference and the Liverpool International Festival in 2011.

Ohlook Performing Arts Center came on the scene in 2002, and was founded by professional singers, Matthew Lord and Jill Blalock Lord.  Word quickly grew about this little theater school in this tiny space where kids could come and be themselves. In the past 15 years Ohlook has grown primarily through word of mouth, and each year hundreds of kids from ages 3 to 18 come through classes. We now even have an adult company (18 & up) made up of some of our former students! In these past 14 years Ohlook has produced almost 200 shows — mostly musicals. Ohlook has become the place where young actors can come study and get experience — and a lot of it! Ohlook also regularly brings in working professionals from NYC to work with our kids so their training is always fresh and up to date with what’s going on in the working world!