Jill Ohayon is a Montreal-born librettist, actor, and singer. After spending a few years working as a litigator and human rights lawyer in Toronto and Ottawa, she made the decision to pursue her love of writing at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. [It is the best decision she has ever made.] She was named the recipient of the Council for Canadian American Relations Award as well as the Shubert Foundation Scholarship. Among others, her works have been performed at Classic Stage Company, Symphony Space, 54 Below, the Green Room 42, Joe’s Pub, the African Grove Theatre, the Broom Tree Theatre, Union Hall, and the New York Public Library. In the summer of 2025, her musical The Garden Bridge (NYFA Queens Arts Fund, the Lab Series at MSM (Finalist), the Aubrey & Marla Dan Fund for New Musicals (Finalist), CreateTheater (Semifinalist)) written with Andy Li, received an Equity Showcase at Classic Stage Company as part of the SheNYC Summer Festival. After a sold-out run with an added performance, it took home the awards for Best Music & Lyrics and Best Production. It has been workshopped at The BringAbout with Jennifer Jancuska, Resident Choreographer of Hamilton on Broadway, as well as with actors Phillipa Soo and James Yaegashi. In May 2025, it was developed at the Casa Uno Artist Residency in Costa Rica, followed by a NYFA-funded reading at the Broom Tree Theatre. Beyond The Garden Bridge, her musical, Turbulence, written with Ryan O’Dea, was selected for production as part of the International Human Rights Arts Festival in December 2024. She and collaborator Andy Li were also selected for Prospect’s Musical Theatre Lab where they wrote Birthday Presence which was performed off-Broadway at Symphony Space. Ohayon holds an MFA from NYU, a JD and a BCL from McGill University, and a BA from the University of Ottawa, where she graduated as the class’s Gold Medalist. Her legal background and justice-oriented mindset inform her writing, and she is drawn to themes of identity, community, and resilience. She is a Member of Maestra, the Dramatists Guild, MUSE, and the Law Society of Ontario.