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[0:00] Jayke Workman: Yes, hi, hello. Uh, this is a message for Mr. George Clooney. So if you're not George, you can just skip ahead. Mr. Clooney, you make me swoony.

[0:17] Jayke Workman: Oh my god, did you hear? Did you hear? Did you hear? Oh my god, guys. I can't believe you because I have to be able to be Oh my god, oh my god, you guys! What is up, everybody? My name is Jayke Workman, and this is Oh My Pod, U Guys, a musical theater and pop culture podcast.

[0:42] Jayke Workman: You guys, so much has been going on this week. I feel like it has truly been a whirlwind for me in terms of theater and New York City. Um, and you guys, we have to dive into this week's BroadwayWorld Recap brought to you by my amazing pals at Broadwayworld.com because so much of what they have been sharing works perfectly in tandem with what I have been getting to do this week.

[1:06] Jayke Workman: So, without further ado, it's the BroadwayWorld Recap. You guys, Broadway World shared a gorgeous first look at Jasmine Amy Rogers as Betty Boop in the new Broadway musical Boop. You guys, we have talked about it for a long time on the pod. I think I remember like maybe over a year ago first seeing the announcement that they were even going to make this. And we were, I mean, I was excited, also maybe skeptical, like, you know, it is kind of a crazy concept. Um, no one's ever done it before, but you guys, I had the absolute dream pleasure of getting to see Boop the Musical. And it was everything.

[1:52] Jayke Workman: Quintessential Broadway. I mean Jerry Mitchell, my god. Can you do wrong? I don't think so. The lighting, the costumes, the staging, the set design, my god, the projections. It is a perfect balance between the original illustration and this new reimagined world, you know. It is poignant and lovely. It's so funny. The lyrics are brilliant. And you guys, I cannot speak enough about Jasmine Amy Rogers as Betty Boop. This is her Broadway debut. She is starring in this show. She is the show. When I tell you, I don't recall another performance that made me this giddy in a long time.

[2:46] Jayke Workman: Jasmine was incredible. The vocals, of course. The dancing, yes, she's got the legs for days and she's whacking them. But you guys, the acting, the storytelling, the impression of Betty Boop without it feeling like an impression. She lived it. She was amazing. And I honestly feel like she could give these other ladies a run for their Tony money, okay? Because she absolutely ate it up. Every little bit of it was flawless. So congratulations to everyone. It's still in previews. Um, congrats to everyone involved. I it's it's a fabulous show and a special um congrats and thank you to Jasmine Amy Rogers because that performance was brilliant. And you have to check out these amazing production photos on BroadwayWorld.com.

[3:43] Jayke Workman: Next, you guys, Broadway World shared a really exciting uh look at the first bow of Goodnight and Good Luck, starring George Clooney on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theater. And you guys, I just so happened to get invited by a dear friend of mine, Miss Marissa Medina, uh, who I funnily enough also saw Boop with. Uh, and we attended this opening night, and you guys, it was electric. I have never been to a Broadway opening night before, and on top of it, it was George Clooney's Broadway debut. So it was, you know, star studded. Everyone came out to see this play, and it was amazing.

[4:24] Jayke Workman: It was so timely and so relevant, um, a little scary, and they do not shy away from telling the truth, um, which I think is the, you know, basically the point of the show. The crux of it is um not taking censorship um from the powers that be. And it was beautiful. George Clooney, of course, I mean, my god, the most handsome man alive, but also a brilliant storyteller and actor, and um, you could tell that he really had a hand in the creation of the show, and it was just breathtaking. I mean, the set alone. I I didn't quite understand the scope um of what we were going in to see. Uh, and you can of course see it on Broadway World, these these photos and the videos of their first bow, but it really takes place in the uh television studio for CBS, and it is really I mean, it's huge. It's it's enormous and it's so detailed, um, and it really looks like you're actually inside like a multiple story building. It's stunning.

[5:32] Jayke Workman: Um and yeah, it it just was so magical to be surrounded by theater people and you know actors and writers, and I sat directly in front of Jason Robert Brown, which was hilarious and crazy, but um yeah, it it was amazing, and I I hope to get to attend more uh opening nights like that because it was it was really a magical evening. Um but you should definitely check out those photos and videos on Broadwayworld.com. And you guys, this has been the BroadwayWorld Recap.

[6:05] Jayke Workman: Oh my pod, you guys! I am so excited to welcome my next guest to the show and into your ears. She is one of my favorite freaking people, to be honest. I absolutely adore this woman. She's a Broadway diva. Oh my god, hello. Everyone's fine. It's fine, everyone calm down. You guys, Mikayla Renfrow is here.

[6:35] Mikayla Renfrow: Hi, doll.

[6:36] Jayke Workman: Hi. How are you doing?

[6:39] Mikayla Renfrow: Oh my god, thank you for being here. I have my iced coffee. I'm ready to go.

[6:42] Jayke Workman: So do I.

[6:44] Mikayla Renfrow: Oh my god, twins. Um would you tell the listeners where you are calling in from on this fine, fine day?

[6:50] Mikayla Renfrow: I'm calling in from Manhattan.

[6:53] Mikayla Renfrow: New York City baby.

[6:55] Jayke Workman: Yeah. Living a dream. When how long have you been in New York?

[7:00] Mikayla Renfrow: I moved technically to Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, in the fall of 2021.

[7:08] Mikayla Renfrow: That was post-grad.

[7:11] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[7:12] Mikayla Renfrow: Post-COVID.

[7:14] Jayke Workman: Yeah, post grad and post-COVID.

[7:16] Mikayla Renfrow: Um notoriously, I lived here for I think two months before I was a replacement in this show in the city of Chicago.

[7:26] Mikayla Renfrow: Um, and I was there then for three months and then moved back. So I kind of had a little bit of a hiatus, but so I always say like I was living here probably January of 2022.

[7:38] Jayke Workman: Love. So how long was it between your move? I guess, you know, the initial move and then after being in Chicago, before you landed your Broadway debut in a little known show.

[7:53] Mikayla Renfrow: Little known show called Wicked.

[7:57] Jayke Workman: Um I booked Wicked in March, March, April of 2021.

[8:05] Mikayla Renfrow: So four months.

[8:07] Jayke Workman: Wow. That is wow. Cuckoo bananas. I I mean, I've always I've told you a million times. Well, and we will get into the lore of how I know you, but um the lore.

[8:19] Mikayla Renfrow: It's all um, but uh it is so uh wicked to me is just like an impenetrable like entity. It is just so big, and now of course with the movie and the resurgence of the entire brand, it's it's crazy, but I live for the fact that like your first Broadway role was Miss Nessa Rose in Wicked. That is just so wild to me. I love it.

[8:44] Mikayla Renfrow: Yeah, it feels kind of random, but also right at the same time, but also questionable choices, but also did you have a long road to that show?

[8:56] Jayke Workman: Or like I feel like often with that show specifically, people are you know, you're in the folder for however long. Like you audition and audition and audition, and then down the line you get the chance to be in it. But like, did you have a a long road to that show?

[9:11] Mikayla Renfrow: Honestly, no. I don't think I I mean, comparatively to maybe other actors that have had the long journey. I kind of came in as another track. Like I right in college, I was it was so weird because our showcase was virtual. I had like three recorded showcase songs, right? And what was really amazing is that we had Rachel Hoffman and Justin Bohan and Asmerette and these beautiful industry people kind of having their eyes on us.

[9:43] Mikayla Renfrow: So at certain points they would say, Oh, just don't showcase with that, we'll just bring you in for that later. And I was actually I had Wicked as one of my showcase songs, and so they're like, Don't do that, just we'll bring you in later. Don't do that. Don't do that. Now looking back, I'm like, wait, was it bad?

[10:02] Mikayla Renfrow: Um So I think my Wicked journey kind of started my senior year of college when they, you know, I think after COVID, they were really trying to really look at everyone and look at w um more choices that weren't always looked at, right? For for certain Broadway shows, and so I I think, you know, it was relatively short and I was only in for one track, but then randomly, you know, Nessa w became available at the right time, and so they kind of switched gears and they were like, Would you be interested in coming in for Nessa?

[10:35] Mikayla Renfrow: And I was like, Yeah, I don't really know her that well. Let me give me a second to learn about her.

[10:39] Jayke Workman: Yeah. You're like, I've had my uh sights set on uh someone else so let me exactly yeah switch my mindset but what a special role I uh people often sleep on Nessa Rose I think honestly because her her uh presence on the original Broadway cast recording is like very minimal yeah cut for time darling but I also think it keeps something it keeps some of the reveal of act two so special for people who don't know it and that I mean governor's mansion is my absolute favorite scene in the entire show.

[11:15] Mikayla Renfrow: We've already we literally backstage at Chicago I was like regaling these I was like no I was like wait we know every word of this governor's mansion scene amazing it's so good when when she when Nessa says well what did you expect oh yeah I live she reads her down when you heard what you'd done how you disgraced us he died of shame worked like damn that is heavy Miss Winnie Holtzman really chewed that up chewed chew chew chewed it's funny because I remember in directors slash associate directors work sessions with that I couldn't possibly in my soul say those words to another human being like when I would look at Talia or Alessa or whoever was obvi opposite me I would my body truly had such a terrible time saying those words to those girls.

[12:09] Mikayla Renfrow: Yeah and um yeah she was cutthroat and she taught me a lot she was definitely my entrance into strength and um almost looking at things black and white, you know, which I think obviously gave me good juju down the line, but she that I learned so much from having to, you know, hold strength next to these incredible women on stage, and yeah, she's she's a doozy for sure.

[12:38] Jayke Workman: She is so then tell me uh because I've I've spoken to quite a few people um on the pod about the sort of uh life journey/slash uh big decision that you have to make when it comes to being in a smash hit musical, a long-running show, and what it means to choose to leave um and to do something else.

[13:02] Jayke Workman: And you obviously went on to do uh more things, you went into Aladdin now at Chicago, but um was there that was that a point of contention for you ever in in terms of like jumping from Wicked to Aladdin, or or was that an easy choice?

[13:17] Mikayla Renfrow: Well, it was an easy choice because my contract was done after nine months.

[13:21] Jayke Workman: Okay.

[13:22] Mikayla Renfrow: So um I think what that was also like first lesson in Broadway principal versus ensemble contracts, you know.

[13:28] Jayke Workman: Yes, yes.

[13:28] Mikayla Renfrow: Um so Wicked is fun and also not fun in the way of like principals are either only there for nine months to a year and then they switch them out, which is you know the algorithm to keep things fresh and you know, um have amazing people in and out.

[13:42] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[13:43] Mikayla Renfrow: Uh so my contract was only nine months. Uh I think I was it was about the same for me, Tolia, um the doctor, no, the wizard and I think that was uh yeah, it was just the three of us that um we started together and ended together. Uh so you know, around like month six, seven, eight, you know, I was auditioning for other things, and we were kind of like deciding and picking and cho hello.

[14:11] Mikayla Renfrow: I really don't know how to do that. We were deciding and picking and choosing how uh what the next step was. And um what was interesting, like you said before, is Nessa Rose in the role and the skill set was completely opposite.

[14:29] Jayke Workman: You're gonna talk.

[14:31] Mikayla Renfrow: Little little does the listener know it's me back with a chime.

[14:38] Mikayla Renfrow: Just dinging as you're talking. It's my I got a new laptop and I don't know how to turn them off.

[14:45] Jayke Workman: It's really okay.

[14:46] Mikayla Renfrow: We were just trying to decide what the next step was, and um I had always wanted to dance on Broadway, so I was really, really hoping that there would be a job available for me to do that. Um, and of course my agents were like, why would you want to dance on Broadway? You know, you started as a principal and now, you know, you want to switch to a different kind of side of life.

[15:05] Mikayla Renfrow: Which is so crazy to me because I'm like, what do you mean? What did I do all of this for? I went to school to sing, dance, and act. What do you mean I can't do a straight play or I can't be in the ensemble? Like I think I think it was more like, wow, your first job out of college was Nessa Rose and Wicked, you know?

[15:26] Mikayla Renfrow: And they were just trying to be really strategic and managerial and which I which is what I love about my team, you know. They don't know what to put me in a box. And so I think they knew how sometimes this industry can be. I don't think it's like this much anymore, but how this industry can very much be like, oh, you're a dancer who sings, or you're an actor who can kind of move, or you know, uh it it's all you're a bald cross dresser who sings like a lady.

[15:53] Jayke Workman: I get it.

[15:56] Mikayla Renfrow: You get it, you get it. So we just wanted uh we just wanted to be really careful and really um thoughtful about what the next job would be. But then at the same time, you know, thankfully Aladdin came along and it was perfect because I would be able to cover Jasmine and also dance my heart out.

[16:14] Mikayla Renfrow: It was you know, it was a perfect mix is amazing, and I've had a few people um because was Juwan Crawley there.

[16:23] Jayke Workman: Yes.

[16:23] Mikayla Renfrow: Okay, so uh yes, I think we talked about it. Yes, a little bit, but um, how Miss Juju was my senior buddy at school, and then insane, and then of course they went on to play the genie.

[16:36] Mikayla Renfrow: Yeah, um, and Babcack and everyone in covering everyone, yeah. Um, but so tell me about your specific sort of uh, you know, road to the show slash you get there and you are in the ensemble and covering Jasmine because that is a huge task.

[16:57] Mikayla Renfrow: I had Tia Altinay on the pod, and we talked about you know the experience, which is so crazy that you guys didn't overlap at 11.

[17:03] Mikayla Renfrow: Well, did she tell you that I think I wore her costumes out of school?

[17:07] Jayke Workman: Oh my god.

[17:08] Mikayla Renfrow: Yeah, like I remember putting when I was trying on things for my jasmine fitting, they were putting, you know, maybe her pants on and another person's top on me, you know, because they're messy. I think that was just for like the first week, just to make sure, like if something were to happen, I have costumes, but sure.

[17:23] Mikayla Renfrow: Um, yeah, I got to wear things that had Tia's name in them, which is really, really cool.

[17:27] Jayke Workman: That's so crazy.

[17:28] Mikayla Renfrow: Now it's her cool.

[17:29] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[17:30] Mikayla Renfrow: Um, yeah, uh Aladdin also was kind of a quick process. Um, I went in for a immediate replacement in the show.

[17:40] Mikayla Renfrow: Um, my agent texted me actually, and he was like, This is kind of a reach and you might not want to do it, but um, would you want to cover Jasmine and Aladdin? And I was like, Yeah.

[17:52] Mikayla Renfrow: Yes. That sounds pretty great to me.

[17:56] Mikayla Renfrow: Yeah. Especially in college, that was another packet that kind of came in through my inbox when they were recasting and everything. And so I had already kind of known the packet, and thankfully.

[18:07] Mikayla Renfrow: And um, so when he texted me, okay, well, they're having a call in two days. Do you think that you could be ready to do this? And I was like, Yeah.

[18:15] Mikayla Renfrow: He's like, You're gonna dance first, they'll make some cuts, and then you'll probably do the jasmine, the full jasmine packet. And I was like, Yeah, great, let's do it.

[18:23] Mikayla Renfrow: So I went in one, like I think it was like a Friday morning. We did the dance call. Um, it was so fun, so amazing. I was having the time of my life, and you know, made it through all these cuts, thankfully.

[18:37] Mikayla Renfrow: And, you know, in the afternoon, I did my jasmine packet. And this is actually one of my not my red flag stories, but um my I don't even know how to say this thing.

[18:53] Mikayla Renfrow: Um I did some sneaky deaky things in this audition. Period. Spill it on the podcast. Spill it on the podcast. The universe being like, let me just give you some help here, right?

[19:07] Mikayla Renfrow: So the way it worked out was which was honestly kind of crazy. I was the last one to go in this line of like seven women that were auditioning for this role.

[19:17] Mikayla Renfrow: And they had us all sit out in the hallway where you can hear everything. That's so rude. Fuck Pearl Swords. You know, and so it's just sometimes you're sitting in the waiting room and they call you one by one, but this they just kind of brought us all to the hallway and we're listening to everyone, right?

[19:30] Mikayla Renfrow: So I'm listening to everyone do this packet. And which is so crazy how I think it's a beautiful thing that you know different people can come in and do the do the song, do the scene completely different than what you're doing in the living room.

[19:42] Mikayla Renfrow: But I was kind of hearing and or inferring as they were doing things one or two times what they were asking each girl to do as they went in.

[19:52] Jayke Workman: To adjust, yeah.

[19:54] Mikayla Renfrow: Yes. So then by the time I went in as the last one, I kind of already had some sort of idea of what they were probably gonna say to me.

[20:03] Mikayla Renfrow: So I did the packet, I did the song, which is beyond these palace walls. Then they asked me to go sit outside, and I was there by myself because I was the last one.

[20:12] Mikayla Renfrow: And they closed the door, and I literally said yes, and I put my ear against the door like a psycho. Because I was like, I think I just was really there was something, there's a disconnect of what they were trying to tell me, and I felt like I was interpreting correctly, but it wasn't anyway.

[20:31] Mikayla Renfrow: So I I did I put my ear against the door and I heard them say, Well, can she belt it? Well, okay, well, then maybe you can just ask her to come back in and sing a belt song, or we can just say, Oh, sing the song with more sound.

[20:42] Mikayla Renfrow: And I was like, Why don't you just say, Can you belt it? Right. You know.

[20:45] Jayke Workman: Sure.

[20:46] Mikayla Renfrow: So they brought me back in. I remember one of the music associates was like, I just need a little bit more sound from you, like whatever that means.

[20:54] Mikayla Renfrow: And I was like, Okay, do you mean like a different voice quality? He's like, sure, if that's what you what how you interpret it.

[20:59] Mikayla Renfrow: And I was like, just say it. Just use your words.

[21:02] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[21:03] Mikayla Renfrow: Well, I think that, you know, maybe they were trying to give space for artistry or whatever.

[21:07] Jayke Workman: Sure.

[21:08] Mikayla Renfrow: So I it's interesting because I mean, you know, this Disney princesses have a certain sound.

[21:14] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[21:15] Mikayla Renfrow: And um, I was I think I was giving what they thought what I thought what a Disney princess, you know, I was taught to sound like.

[21:21] Mikayla Renfrow: Sure. Um, and then I was like, well, okay, I guess I'll just give big Broadway belt instead of Disney Princess.

[21:27] Jayke Workman: Yes.

[21:27] Mikayla Renfrow: And then I did that, and they were like, great. Thank you so much. Have a great day. And I was like, okay.

[21:34] Mikayla Renfrow: I left, put my ear against the door again. And they said, yep, that's exactly what we needed. And I was like, work.

[21:39] Jayke Workman: Work.

[21:40] Mikayla Renfrow: Okay, but isn't that a testament to like I I wonder this all the time in in auditioning and in like throughout callbacks and stuff?

[21:49] Mikayla Renfrow: Because you know, you always get, or I don't know if you always do, but I often um like I don't know exactly what they're looking for.

[21:56] Mikayla Renfrow: I'll try it this way, but hopefully they give me enough, you know, clue or context for things so that I can make the correct choices.

[22:01] Mikayla Renfrow: But it's like you we both want me to do well for you. We both want me to do what you're looking for so that you have someone to do the job and so that I have the job.

[22:14] Mikayla Renfrow: So why are we not communicating openly?

[22:18] Jayke Workman: Right.

[22:18] Mikayla Renfrow: And like I have no problem asking questions and being like, I I'll do it a different way if you want me to. But like, what is this weird like game of like dancing around what we want?

[22:30] Mikayla Renfrow: It was really interesting because I feel like a lot of the Jasmins that go in and out have this same conversation about that song.

[22:37] Mikayla Renfrow: Like that was I've had a journey with it ever since when I was there for a year. And I think it's they want you to kind of make your own sound with it, you know, with your own artistry, your own experience, whatever, your own voice.

[22:49] Mikayla Renfrow: And so maybe they just don't want to put stamp this is a belt song, you know.

[22:54] Jayke Workman: Right.

[22:54] Mikayla Renfrow: They want to be more from a more of an emotional place, which I get, but at the same time, you know, especially when it's an audition setting, and there's uh, you know, my brain is kind of spinning because of adrenaline and whatever.

[23:07] Mikayla Renfrow: Like I just need clear, this is how you sing it, this is what we want, but you know, you're not gonna get that all the time.

[23:14] Mikayla Renfrow: So I then had to I don't like I don't think I've ever been that psycho of an auditioner ever before and ever again after that.

[23:22] Mikayla Renfrow: But I mean it worked out like that it sometimes it takes those things as like a lesson.

[23:27] Mikayla Renfrow: I uh I say, you know, why aren't people direct? And then of course I think about literally a few weeks ago I was in for a production of some show and I uh I couldn't sing it, I just couldn't.

[23:41] Mikayla Renfrow: I I was like, this is a bass baritone, and that is not what I am. Oh so I texted my agent and I was like, hey, I'm gonna make a choice. Is that cool? And he was like, Yeah, do it.

[23:50] Mikayla Renfrow: So I sang it up the octave.

[23:52] Jayke Workman: Work.

[23:53] Mikayla Renfrow: And it was, I will, you know, humbly say it was a fucking sleigh.

[23:58] Mikayla Renfrow: Like, oh, of course it was. I mean, it was a slay. Kantiana McGilllikuddy, but they were so confused.

[24:08] Mikayla Renfrow: Yeah, the faces must have been like, uh, and so without like outing these people, it he was like, well, that was certainly a surprise.

[24:21] Mikayla Renfrow: And I was like, thank you. Like, not knowing whether it was like, you know, a good surprise or a bad surprise.

[24:28] Mikayla Renfrow: And then he was like, Can you sing it um in the original key now? I was like, oh but and I was like, Well, I'm not getting this job.

[24:36] Mikayla Renfrow: And I literally I like literally turned to Mary Sugarman, and I was like, I think that's enough for me.

[24:44] Mikayla Renfrow: I think I think that's yeah. I think I just politely was like, Thank you so much, goodbye.

[24:50] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[24:50] Mikayla Renfrow: Um anyway.

[24:52] Mikayla Renfrow: So cut two, you're in the show in the ensemble.

[24:56] Mikayla Renfrow: You sometimes are going on for Jasmine. Um, do you okay, well, I was gonna ask if you have like a last minute uh going on it like memory of like how close was your call to being like you're getting out of your ensemble costume and you're going on for Jasmine. Like, did you ever have like a mid-show moment?

[25:17] Mikayla Renfrow: No mid-show moments. We've had a couple of scares where like, you know, someone's not feeling well, and you like hear through the grapevine all the way down to the bunker that Jasmine doesn't feel good, you know? Right, just normal things like that. But um, thankfully we've had no mid-show scares. Um, Sonia is like strong as a bull, so also her voice is like literally impeccable. So we had no uh mid-show scares, and also my first day, I remember my first time going on, it was a scheduled date, so I had time like emotionally prep. Okay, that was a really magical experience because it was scheduled, so like Ali came, Ali Tram came and saw my first show, and my dresser from Wicked, Terry, came and saw my first show. Oh my god, and which it was terrifying because you know, the first time you're going on for that, you're still kind of figuring out how to sing with a giant TR on your head, but also you're quite literally flying through the air.

[26:18] Jayke Workman: Yeah, yeah. Do you get a practice run on the carpet before you go?

[26:23] Mikayla Renfrow: Yeah, with our put in and even just understudy rehearsals, they're like, this is the carpet, this is how it works. And um, you're able to understand what that flight is, which is so stable and so safe. And like I feel more terrified on the ladder at Chicago than I ever did on the carpet.

[26:40] Jayke Workman: Oh my god.

[26:41] Mikayla Renfrow: Hello, suckers. Welcome back. I'm still shaking in my boots on that ladder. I don't it's I don't know how we're still doing that. Crazy. Okay, I do know that there is a crazy kooky story, which we don't have to fully delve into. Here we are. But I live for the drama of drama. The urgency. Would you care to share even just the element of a helicopter having to do with Aladdin the musical?

[27:15] Mikayla Renfrow: Um yes. So um sadly there was a event that occurred. Yes. Um long story short, these are the bullet points. I was um on vacation slash work trip with um a partner at the time, my ex, and um we were in Italy and I was on my way back, I think it was a Tuesday. Yeah, it was a Tuesday, and my flight got delayed, so it pushed me to get into New York, I think around like six or seven. So at that point, when I was supposed to be in my ensemble track, I was just gonna be out of the show. And um, it was fine. I had texted my stage manager that morning when everything was delayed and I was like, hey, I don't think I'll make it back for the show tonight. And she's like, oh, it's fine, like, you know, we have amount X amount of swings available, we're okay. So just like if for whatever reason you make it, great. If not, we have swings available, you're okay.

[28:10] Mikayla Renfrow: Nice. Um, so then um flash forward like maybe four or five hours into the flight. Um, I have like, you know, Delta Wi-Fi, and um, I get a text that comes through from the stage manager, and it's like, hey, what's your ETA again? It's like, um, like six o'clock, I think, and she was like, okay, um, so here's the situation. We might actually need you for jazz tonight. Can you um just like really keep us updated? And I was like, what happened? And at that point, there were only two Jasmine covers in the building, me and one other human, and the other human, um, I believe injured herself in the show that week, and so it was like not great if she had to go on because it, you know, sparking in more of an injury or whatever. Um, so at that point I was the only cover available, and um our principal had fallen ill. So it was a little stressful.

[29:15] Mikayla Renfrow: Um, and I told her I was like, there's literally no way if I land at six o'clock that I'm making it to the new am by 6:30. Like everyone knows how flights work, and right. So long story short, I had this beautiful flight attendant who decided to take um action and help me, and I my um my ex went to her and was like, this is so stupid, and you're probably gonna say no, but my girlfriend has um to play Jasmine in Aladdin tonight. Is there any option that you might have to like get us through the airport or like to the theater really quickly? And this like beautiful sassy woman was like, what show? And I was like, um, Aladdin, a lad in the musical. She goes, oh, so you're playing Jasmine, and I was like, yeah.

And she goes, yep, okay, we'll figure it out. Do you know about Blade? Blade is this helicopter service for rich people. And um, owned by Uber. And basically, I guess, you know, you get off the plane, they Uber you to the Blade, and then it takes you to Hudson Yards. So long story short, um, this beautiful human being and this beautiful pilot made it possible, and I and Disney helped me book a helicopter to take me from the airport to Hudson Yards, and then I had to use my athletic ability and run to the train from Hudson Yards so that I could be at the show that night. And I think I got there at like 6:40.

[30:34] Mikayla Renfrow: Um, I cried when I got in the elevator because I hadn't slept, and um, yeah, and I did the show that night as jazz. And then I think that is after or something like that. But Ray Z pants. I just live for I mean, you know, we can talk uh ad nauseum about the like level of the show must go on fuckery that happens. Yeah, but I live for the fact that like even on the Broadway level, like what we think of this like pinnacle thing, yeah. One piece of the puzzle can unravel the entire thing.

[31:05] Jayke Workman: And did you I mean, of course, I'm sure you were exhausted and terrified and exhilarated, but like, did you have the feeling of like I saved the day?

[31:16] Mikayla Renfrow: Um, I don't know. I don't know what my feelings were, honestly. I think I was I think I was raised in this do absolutely everything you can to be available for your show. Right, you know, and so I think that like it almost like there was like this switch of like in a weird way, well, you know, you did say that you were gonna end vacation on this day. Like it is your responsibility to be available on the day that you said you were gonna be available. So if it, you know, the life sucks, your flight was delayed, like, but if you can make it happen, it's your job to make it happen. Which, you know, in hindsight, horrible way of thinking, you know, like kind of to some degree. But like I I had a lot of pride in being an understudy, and um I learned that from Wicked and I and being standby's understudies covers, like I have a lot of pride in it. And so I think if anything, what drove me was like they needed me, so I had to be there, you know.

[32:20] Jayke Workman: I love that I could tell that the other cover just really couldn't do it due to their injury, and so I you know, I felt for them, and yeah. So I just if anything, I was just like, I just have to try, you know.

[32:32] Mikayla Renfrow: I love it. I mean, that also is a a true um sort of like what's the word? It's a a testament to your specific um work ethic and just ability because you also now cover Velma Kelly in Chicago, the musical on Broadway while also doing what I consider a principal. I feel like everyone in Chicago, the musical should be considered a principal because everyone speaks, everyone has singing, everyone's doing a bunch of shit, but you're also like sliding into the splits, like girl, we have to talk about Chicago the music cow.

[33:15] Mikayla Renfrow: Oh gosh. So that's where we met.

[33:17] Jayke Workman: Where we met, and I I have such a lovely, like distinct memory of meeting you because it was a day where there was a rehearsal.

[33:30] Mikayla Renfrow: Okay.

[33:31] Jayke Workman: And you and I were both just sitting in the in the house watching this rehearsal. And I remember being like, who is that gorgeous girl?

[33:43] Mikayla Renfrow: And I was like, she's either going into the show or she's just a really gorgeous, like uh groupie.

[33:52] Jayke Workman: Yeah. Oh, did you because I think it was Ariana's pudding, right?

[33:56] Mikayla Renfrow: Yes, yes.

[33:57] Jayke Workman: Like, oh, this is a groupie, someone she brought along. Or, you know, because you never know, like, especially when it is like one of the like stunt cast like celebrity people, they always have some sort of posse or entourage like hanging around. So I was like, I have no idea who's lovely's pastors. But you were like, yeah, I'm starting in, you know, a week. And I was like, oh fuck, okay, work.

[34:17] Mikayla Renfrow: Um, so tell me, like, how how has it been um being in the ensemble, but you know, still getting to do the iconic pop, pop.

[34:31] Mikayla Renfrow: Um it has been a journey of lessons and mountains and I mean it's such a different, sorry to cut you off. It's such a different vibe, I would imagine from well, obviously, number one, doing Nessa, but but just being in these enormous shows with enormous thousand wigs and a thousand costume changes and everything, and like Chicago really is you in a bra in panties and that bishnette bodysuit. Like, there is nothing to hide behind.

[35:05] Jayke Workman: Not hide, baby.

[35:09] Mikayla Renfrow: Yeah. There's no set. Like it's just you. Like how how have you navigated that?

[35:17] Mikayla Renfrow: Ooh, good question. Um I think it's just, you know, relying on your training and trusting that you've trained really hard. And you know, you at your base is what you were hired for. You know, you were, I mean, I came in, it's almost like what you come in with is what they have to work with, simply put, you know. And you just have to trust that that is enough through rehearsal and through nuances and practice that then when you put on your red lip and your hair is down that it all comes together. It's just trust. I think I just have to trust the training.

[35:56] Jayke Workman: Totally. Did you know going in that you were going to be a cover?

[36:02] Mikayla Renfrow: Yes.

[36:03] Jayke Workman: Okay, so did when like through the audition process, you were also doing the Velma stuff as well.

[36:08] Mikayla Renfrow: Yes. It was actually it was funny. I was talking to David Bushman, our dance captain a couple days ago. Um, and he had mentioned he was like, you know, it's so funny, you never really came in to audition for the ensemble, but you came in to audition for Val McKelly. And I was like, oh, I I didn't realize that's how you saw it, you know, because I can't I came in as a cover, like the track was cover, you know.

[36:29] Mikayla Renfrow: Yeah, yeah. Um, but in some ways, when you go through the audition and the dance cuts, you know, they are looking at you as the front of the wedge. You know, they're not looking at you as, you know, back here in the on the third line, you know. So it definitely informed, you know, what I wore, how I carried myself in the room, how I, you know, the energy that you bring. And um, I definitely had to like suit up for sure. And I didn't, I didn't even clock that until Bushman had said that. Like you did you were auditioning for Velma the minute you stepped in. You didn't really audition for the ensemble.

[37:10] Mikayla Renfrow: Which is so amazing. And I I was gonna ask you, I I was excited to ask you. Do you feel um okay? Well, I have multiple questions. Number one, do you personally what is happening in my voice?

[37:24] Jayke Workman: Good morning, honey. Um, do you feel like personally more of a Velma or more of a Roxy?

[37:36] Mikayla Renfrow: Um I think the world sees me as a Roxy, and I think I see myself as a Velma.

[37:45] Jayke Workman: Work. Okay. So then my second question is when you do go on for Velma, and I'm sure this has changed over having done it now multiple times. Um do you find yourself making new choices, or do you find that staying in sort of a good um routine of things is what keeps your train going?

[38:11] Mikayla Renfrow: I think I will always have to make choices. That's just always who I've been in as an actor.

[38:19] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[38:20] Mikayla Renfrow: And I think that, yes, of course, there becomes you know, your set show, but what's so beautiful about Velma and beautiful about Chicago is that it is a vaudeville act. So like you can play and be funny, and you know, I think Roxy has so many places to be likable. Um also places to be unlikable, but she has much more of a space to like be this bright, bubbly, fun, entertaining thing.

[38:46] Jayke Workman: Yes.

[38:47] Mikayla Renfrow: And I wanted Velma to have those moments as well. I'm still finding the balance, but I the minute that I clung on to bringing in my humor into Velma, I think that's when I actually started to find her within my body, if that makes sense.

[39:07] Jayke Workman: Yes. Do you have a favorite uh well? I want to know about both. Do you have a favorite Velma Kelly moment in the show and a favorite um Liz moment in the show?

[39:19] Mikayla Renfrow: Um, I love for Liz for my dance track. I love overture. Um it's so gorgeous. Yeah, I just think it's like, you know, your energy's fresh, the audience is fresh, they're starting to see what they're about to walk into, you know, these like beautiful actors coming at you. It's very fossy, you know, it just feels I get to do the Fossy sign of the cross, which feels very like I think that is like okay. I'm doing Chicago on Broadway, you know.

[39:49] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[39:49] Mikayla Renfrow: With me, Mikey and Selena, us three center doing this. It just sets everything. Um I also feel like I'm giving back, I'm giving leg, I'm giving hair flip, you know, of course. It feels very like this is who Liz is buckle up, you know.

[40:06] Jayke Workman: Yes.

[40:07] Mikayla Renfrow: Um, I would say that's my favorite Liz moment, and I think my favorite Velma moment is probably when Velma takes the sand and I do this whole like crazy chair thing, which feels very like I have control over this act. I'm giving personality, I'm giving, you know, thought, and like you can see how she's thinking. She's smart. You know, he's connected to Billy, but also it's this actual, you know, you feel very showman in your in in your moves. And then at the very end, all of the boys pick you up in a chair.

[40:40] Jayke Workman: Yes.

[40:40] Mikayla Renfrow: And that's your exit. That is so dreamworthy, you know. I live for, may I have my exit music, please?

[40:49] Jayke Workman: That's pretty crazy.

[40:51] Mikayla Renfrow: It is crazy. And then they all pick you up, and you're just like, bye.

[40:56] Jayke Workman: Bye.

[40:57] Mikayla Renfrow: Do you I um like determined to convince stage management to let me ride the elevator?

[41:07] Jayke Workman: I don't know why you can't, like at a work haul or something when they know, exactly.

[41:12] Mikayla Renfrow: Do you do you live for that moment?

[41:15] Jayke Workman: I am definitely having to do so much meditation in the moment. In the box, because people don't understand that when you like top of show, similar to like a Glinda situation where like she gets in the bubble and she rides up and she's waiting for you to make her entrance. You stand on a little platform and get lowered down into a box, but you have no way to get out unless you are up there.

[41:38] Mikayla Renfrow: So even like at the very end of the show, you get you and Roxy waving and you guys lower down. And then you have to stay in the box until they bring in the curtain after the overture, or not the overture, the orchestra finishes their last number as uh as the audience is like trailing out. What is that? Like, do you can you describe that feeling of being down there in the box with Roxy, just like waiting to come back up?

[42:05] Mikayla Renfrow: Um Are you guys like shooting the shit, taking your shoes off?

[42:11] Jayke Workman: Yes, mostly.

[42:12] Mikayla Renfrow: You know, it's funny. I I will have the I have the version I will tell you now, and then they will there will be the version that I tell you in 30 years. But the version I have now for you is what's really cool is that it's this really beautiful moment between two female actors that have just gone on this crazy journey, and in like a really weird meta way, you know, the lights come down, the curtain comes down, we're taking bobby pins out of our hair. We're talking about how tired we are or how amazing the show felt, or I have this person here, and it's you know, I had to kind of zoom out sometimes and look at myself and say, you know, you're in this box with this person that just led a Broadway show, and you're like taking bobby pins out of your hair, and that's your life, you know. That's what we dreamed of doing.

[43:06] Jayke Workman: Yeah, of just being so like exhausted by a two and a half hour Broadway show, n, you know, side by side with this incredible human, whoever it might be, playing Roxy.

[43:16] Mikayla Renfrow: And yeah, we have some iconic women, you know, in our show with Roxy. And so I sometimes I'd mostly zoom out and just say, like, wow, now we're just having this girly pop moment of like, you know.

[43:28] Jayke Workman: Have you done a two-show day as well?

[43:31] Mikayla Renfrow: Yes.

[43:31] Jayke Workman: Yeah. Work Diva.

[43:33] Mikayla Renfrow: Yeah. That's amazing. It's definitely it's a trip. It's definitely a trip. Well, I just absolutely adore you. Before I let you go, I have a series of musical theater rapid fire questions that I'll guess.

[43:46] Jayke Workman: This is not trivia. These are questions, these are.

[43:50] Mikayla Renfrow: I kind of want the trivia. I feel like I would be pretty good at it.

[43:53] Jayke Workman: Oh, I think you would absolutely be good at it. Uh, okay, here we go. Sondheim or Andrew Lloyd Weber?

[44:01] Mikayla Renfrow: Fuck.

[44:03] Jayke Workman: Bumpana pop six slash.

[44:07] Mikayla Renfrow: Oh my god. That is a rude question. I'm gonna go with Sondheim.

[44:13] Jayke Workman: Sweatpants or jeans?

[44:15] Mikayla Renfrow: Jeans.

[44:16] Jayke Workman: Do you have a favorite musical?

[44:18] Mikayla Renfrow: Carousel.

[44:19] Jayke Workman: Do you have a least favorite musical?

[44:25] Mikayla Renfrow: Um is it hands on a hard body? Um, this is gonna hurt some feelings. Uh right now I have some emotions about Thoroughly Modern Millie.

[44:39] Jayke Workman: Oh my god!

[44:40] Mikayla Renfrow: That's an excellent one. Well, we'll talk about that off the pod. Uh would you ever like to do a Broadway play?

[44:48] Mikayla Renfrow: Of course. Please. Please. I'm begging.

[44:51] Jayke Workman: Are you a morning person or a night owl?

[44:54] Mikayla Renfrow: Both.

[44:55] Jayke Workman: Love.

[44:56] Mikayla Renfrow: Uh awake all hours of the day. I'm awake constantly. Um, can you think of the craziest thing a director has ever asked you to do, either in a rehearsal room or an audition setting?

[45:10] Mikayla Renfrow: Um you know, it's funny. No I can't think of anything where it feels crazy, only because I I don't feel like I have it in my soul to be like, I'm not doing that. You know what I mean? I've never had that moment yet where I someone asked me to do something and I feel like it's nails on a chalkboard. Where someone is literally like, now could you lay down on the floor and pretend to be a cucumber?

[45:36] Jayke Workman: Yeah, yeah.

[45:37] Mikayla Renfrow: Okay, I've actually been really lucky that I've had to work with some really, really great people and not scary people yet. Scary in those sense of like that makes absolutely no sense.

[45:47] Jayke Workman: Yes. Yes.

[45:49] Mikayla Renfrow: Um, golden age or contemporary.

[45:53] Jayke Workman: Oh fuck.

[45:54] Mikayla Renfrow: Golden age.

[45:55] Jayke Workman: Do you have a favorite role you've ever played?

[45:59] Mikayla Renfrow: I loved being Delee in Smoky Joe's.

[46:02] Jayke Workman: Oh yes.

[46:04] Mikayla Renfrow: I got to sing, I got to dance, I got to be young and youthful. Zong zongong.

[46:09] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[46:10] Mikayla Renfrow: Yes. Um, coffee or tea?

[46:13] Jayke Workman: Coffee.

[46:15] Mikayla Renfrow: What is the hardest show you've ever done?

[46:18] Jayke Workman: Chicago the musical.

[46:20] Mikayla Renfrow: Do you have a favorite costume you've ever worn?

[46:24] Mikayla Renfrow: Yeah, my blue jasmine, big blue.

[46:24] Jayke Workman: Big blue.

[46:28] Mikayla Renfrow: Big blue baby. Uh, who is the silliest cast member in Chicago the musical?

[46:35] Jayke Workman: Say it with me.

[46:37] Mikayla Renfrow: Drew.

[46:38] Jayke Workman: Drew.

[46:39] Mikayla Renfrow: Drew Nelson. My work husband. That's what we call him. I adore him and I want him to be my real husband.

[46:46] Jayke Workman: Um have you ever missed an entrance?

[46:52] Mikayla Renfrow: Um my ensemble track in Aladdin. I did miss an entrance once. It was a um uh a town scene, you know, and I just had to literally cross from stage right to stage left with a basket. That's all I had to do. And sadly, I was reading a book down in the basement, as I do, and I got so into my book that I missed my cross.

[47:17] Jayke Workman: Live.

[47:18] Mikayla Renfrow: Uh thank god.

[47:21] Jayke Workman: Thank God. Do you have any pets?

[47:24] Mikayla Renfrow: I do have a baby boy. His name is Bingley.

[47:26] Jayke Workman: When you first told me the name of your dog, I freaked out because that is literally what my friends and I call each other. We call each other Bing or Bingley.

[47:37] Mikayla Renfrow: What?

[47:38] Jayke Workman: Which is so funny. Like where did that start?

[47:41] Mikayla Renfrow: I have absolutely no idea, but literally in like true my mother fashion, I will give you a nickname that has absolutely nothing to do with everything. She calls me zipper or zip. Like for I have no idea why. And it has my sister calls me brother. Like it's a yeah.

[47:57] Jayke Workman: Um, my last question for you is a question I ask every guest, which is what is one thing that you would tell baby Mick.

[48:05] Mikayla Renfrow: Oh. It's all gonna work out. Just trust yourself and trust the timing.

[48:13] Jayke Workman: Love. Mikayla, you are such a delight. Would you please tell the listeners where they can find you on the socials and follow you along on your journey?

[48:24] Mikayla Renfrow: Oh, well, um, if you like looking at books or what what wine I'm drinking or puppy photos, um, you can follow me on Instagram.

[48:34] Jayke Workman: Gorgeous, gorgeous model photos of your face and body.

[48:39] Mikayla Renfrow: I hope I'm giving cozy and not model. That is like not what my brand is. Do you know what? No, you know what it is? It's it's Beyonce Cozy. It's come to believe my skin.

[48:49] Jayke Workman: Oh I am I love that.

[48:52] Mikayla Renfrow: Yes. Um yeah, uh, I'm on Instagram mostly. Um at mikayla.renf. That's half of my last name. Uh I don't know why I didn't just use my full last name. I don't know where where that started. Um, and I don't really have, I mean, I guess I'm on TikTok, but TikTok is more silly, like cooking videos that make no sense that are probably just for me documenting how to make things.

[49:15] Jayke Workman: Oh yeah, so I'll be there.

[49:18] Mikayla Renfrow: Yay follow her. Thank you so so much for coming on the pod. This was so much fun.

[49:22] Jayke Workman: I love you, darling.

[49:25] Mikayla Renfrow: I love y'all. You guys, that's it for another episode of Oh My Pod you guys. Please, please don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe anywhere you listen to the pod. And you can follow the show on Instagram at oh mypod you guys for all of the Broadway shenanigan updates. Thank you so much for listening. Talk soon. Bye.

[49:47] Jayke Workman: Oh my god oh my pod you guys.