The Role of a Lifetime: Ruthlyn Salomons and the Magic of "The Lion King"
The Job Description: A Tall Order for a Unique Role
Imagine a job that demands 10-hour days, seven days a week, along with the ability to manipulate 200 puppets, walk on stilts, and manage a cast of 52 performers. Add to that the need to remember every detail of a two-and-a-half-hour show and keep it as fresh as it was 28 years ago. This is the role of the resident dance supervisor for The Lion King, a position so unique that it was created specifically for the show. While many Broadway productions have dance captains who maintain choreography, The Lion King stands out for requiring a supervisor to oversee the entire production’s intricate movement. Ruthlyn Salomons has held this position for 25 years, making her the heartbeat of the show’s kinetic puzzle. She ensures that the narrative flows seamlessly and that no one gets hurt—a task that requires the heart of a social worker, the discipline of a Marine, and the boundless energy of a camp counselor.
The Show’s Unparalleled Complexity: Movement as the Lifeblood
At the core of The Lion King is movement. According to Salomons, “It’s what binds it. Everything in the show moves. Everything dances.” This isn’t just about the performers; every element, from the 5-inch mouse puppet to the 13-foot-long mama elephant, Bertha, who requires four puppeteers, is part of a monumental dance. The show’s demands are so unusual that it requires a different kind of maintenance. Former associate producer Michele Steckler recognized early on that managing the production’s movement was too much for one person, leading to the creation of the resident dance supervisor role. Salomons, with her extensive background in dance, including stints with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Mikhail Baryshnikov’s White Oak Project, was the perfect fit.
A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Ruthlyn Salomons’ Day
Each performance finds Salomons stationed at the rear of the Minskoff Theater, scrutinizing every detail. Her eyes dart across the stage, ensuring no step is misaligned, no arm is out of place, and no stillness is cut short. The show’s intricate staging, rapid scene changes, and interconnected performers mean disaster is always a heartbeat away. Puppet mishaps, accidental collisions, and the constant flux of cast availability (due to illness, injury, or personal emergencies) keep her on high alert. Salomons is also a teacher, constantly training swings, ensemble members, and soloists, while tidying up sections of the show that have become slack. Her work includes maintaining Tony-winning choreographer Garth Fagan’s original vision and ensuring that performers—only 16 of whom are professional dancers—can execute the complex puppetry and group dances flawlessly.
Choreographing Chaos: Life Backstage
The backstage world of The Lion King is its own well-oiled machine, with 100 crew members, including stagehands, wardrobe specialists, puppet directors, and physical therapists, working in tandem. Performers must navigate this labyrinthine environment to change costumes quickly—each ensemble member plays at least nine roles. This offstage choreography is just as demanding as the on-stage performance. Salomons describes her job as ever-changing, with no two days alike. Her work is a constant learning process, whether she’s training a new swing performer or solving unexpected challenges that arise during a show.
A Day in the Life of a Dance Supervisor
In January, Salomons was followed for several days to capture the enormity of her role. Her days are filled with brush-up rehearsals, one-on-one training sessions, and meticulous planning. On January 6, she began her day in her office, poring over her “Dance Bible,” a thick binder documenting every detail of the show, from casting to stage diagrams. Later, she trained an ensemble member to operate a 14-foot giraffe puppet, emphasizing the importance of narrative in movement. “Danger is in the air,” she told him, reminding him that every count matters. The following days included a private dance rehearsal with a swing performer, who had to master eight roles across 13 scenes, and a pre-show ritual of checking in with performers, offering encouragement, and preparing for the evening’s casting. By curtain call, her mind was still racing with plans for the next day, a testament to her boundless energy.
Keeping the Magic Alive: Ruthlyn Salomons’ Legacy
After 25 years, Salomons remains as passionate as ever about her work. She admits to having down days but finds reinvigoration in moments of magic, often sparked by working with new performers. Her philosophy is one of resilience and growth, a lesson she learned when she fell onstage during a performance of Company as a student. Instead of letting the mishap define her, she used it as fuel to keep going. Today, she passes this lesson on to her performers, teaching them that mistakes are part of the process. As The Lion King continues to dazzle audiences, Ruthlyn Salomons remains its invisible conductor, ensuring that every move, every puppet, and every performer tells a story that captivates and inspires. Her work is a testament to the power of movement, coordination, and the unwavering dedication required to keep a Broadway phenomenon alive.
