Ian Atwood leads the orchestra for The Little Mermaid with precision, passion, and a deep love for musical storytelling. His direction brings the score to life, shaping the soundscape that carries every moment of the show.
Fast Facts & Favorites
Early bird or night owl?
Night owl
Favorite tech‑week snack?
Cashews and apples
Dream show to work on?
I've done a lot, so I guess whatever is next that excites me and that I want to give my time to.
Favorite musical/play?
Not possible so I'll lean into the composer instead and say anything Sondheim.
What excited you most about working on this year’s show?
I absolutely love anything Alan Menken. I had the pleasure of conducting Beauty and the Beast a number of years ago with MGP and the score and popular numbers are awesome, but the underscoring he writes under dialogue and to build up those suspenseful and dramatic moments on stage are what it's all about.
What’s your theater origin story?
I was a band kid who could sing, but was pulled into choir late and immediately cast in High School productions. I guess I liked it because I went on to get my BFA in Musical Theatre.
What’s your favorite backstage superstition or tradition?
In college it was doing push-ups during warmups, but those days are long behind me. I miss themed mic checks. I did some Summer stock were our production SM would assign the "theme of the day" and we would go out and do like 10 bars of whatever we would pic for mic check. It was a wonderful ice breaker and got people always chatting after about why they chose what they chose.
What’s a memorable or funny moment from a past show you’ve worked on?
I don't know if I have many "dream roles" remaining, but it's always memorable when you get to go out on stage and be authentically yourself because you are so in tune to the role and production. Having the audience right there with you every word and note is something very powerful and not to be taking lightly.
What’s a hidden talent you have that has nothing to do with theater?
I'm a pretty decent darter. I'm a card carrying member of the Cleveland Darter Club.
What’s one item you always have in your bag during rehearsals or tech week?
Post it notes of EVERY COLOR. SO MANY POST IT NOTES AND TABS!
Describe this production in three words.
Under. The. Sea.