Broadway understudy shares incredible race to ‘Aladdin’ stage

She wasn’t expecting a magic carpet ride.

Mikayla Renfrow, who understudies Princess Jasmine in Broadway’s “Aladdin,” revealed she was helicoptered to the New Amsterdam Theater after being called in last minute while on a Delta Airlines flight from Europe.

“Mikayla… please send an updated eta when you can. I may need you for Jasmine tonight,” read a text message from the “Aladdin” stage manager that Renfrow shared on TikTok last week.

According to the video, Renfrow “had 4 more hours to go, and would be landing around 5 pm — which gave me no time for me to make the show for half-hour call.” 

Renfrow, 24, told People that she was supposed to have arrived at JFK airport the following morning to take on the ensemble role that night. But her flight was delayed, and her performance was pushed back another day.


Renfrow revealed it was at this point that the pilot came out of the cockpit to tell her that her only real option was to use a helicopter to reduce the 2-hour drive from the airport to minutes.
Mikayla Renfrow, who understudies Princess Jasmine in Broadway’s “Aladdin,” revealed she was helicoptered to the New Amsterdam Theater after being called in last minute while on a Delta Airlines flight from Europe.
mikrenfrow/TikTok

“I think my brain just immediately started going through every option that I knew was possible at that point,” she told the publication.

According to her TikTok — which has landed 945,000 views — Renfrow asked the Delta flight attendant if she could be the first to disembark.

She had no idea how far the airline would go to help her.

“Never in a million years did I think what they had in store was what the plan was going to be,” gushed Renfrow.

According to the panic-stricken actress, the flight attendant managed to move her up to first class, so she could get a meal and sleep before going on stage.

“My first instinct was to just put my earphones on and listen to the music, so that I could run through the mental story that I needed as an actor,” she shared.


Upon landing, Renfrow revealed that a Delta agent had expedited her through customs only for her to nearly miss her Uber Blade.
Upon landing, Renfrow revealed that a Delta agent had expedited her through customs only for her to nearly miss her Uber Blade.
mikrenfrow/TikTok

Renfrow shared that the pilot came out of the cockpit to tell her that her only real option was to use a helicopter to reduce the 2-hour drive from the airport to 7 minutes.

“He would do everything in his power to get me there on time,” explained Renfrow, adding that the pilot even requested a gate change so the plane would be closer to customs.

Upon landing, Renfrow revealed that a Delta agent had expedited her through customs only for her to nearly miss her Uber Blade.


After landing in Hudson Yards, the Broadway actress was forced to dash for the train and luckily made it to the show on time.
After landing in Hudson Yards, the Broadway actress was forced to dash for the train.
mikrenfrow/TikTok

"My first instinct was to just put my earphones on and listen to the music, so that I could run through the mental story that I needed as an actor," she shared.
Luckily she made it to the show on time.
mikrenfrow/TikTok

“I made it … thanks to Delta & Blade championing me through," concluded Renfrow, adding that in a surprise twist, one of the flight attendants managed to score a ticket to the show.
“I made it … thanks to Delta & Blade championing me through,” concluded Renfrow, adding that in a surprise twist, Delta flight supervisor Leicha Richardson was able to attend the show.
mikrenfrow/TikTok

“I ended up being 1 minute late, but Blade waited for me knowing this was my last try at making it for the show. They saved me,” wrote Renfrow, who had been keeping the entire “Aladdin” company updated on her progress.

The Post reached out to Renfrow for comment.

After landing in Hudson Yards, the Broadway actress was forced to dash for the train — luckily she made it to the show on time.

“I made it … thanks to Delta & Blade championing me through,” concluded Renfrow, adding that in a surprise twist, Delta flight supervisor Leicha Richardson was able to attend.

“Hearing her cheer me on from the moment I stepped out just carried me through the whole thing,” cried Renfrow. “So that show was for her. She helped me through that whole journey, even to the theater at the end of the night.”

“We were touched by this story and applaud the crew that went above and beyond on this flight to JFK to ensure Mikayla was ready to take the stage,” A rep from Delta later told the Post. “Our people are the best in the business, and it’s our honor to provide memorable ‘magic carpet rides’ for Broadway stars and fans alike every day.”