A Homecoming at The Happiest Place on Earth: Derek Klena Visits Disneyland with the Savannah Bananas

What happens when The Greatest Show in Sports takes over The Happiest Place on Earth? A fast-paced day full of nonstop fun, Disney magic, and a bit of baseball! The Savannah Bananas have landed in SoCal, and delighted fans yesterday at Disneyland Resort with their signature spectacle of choreography, comedy, and crowd-pleasing entertainment.

For those in attendance, the split-tacular schedule was jam-packed with lively performances, player interactions, special surprise moments, and lots of themed merchandise or banana-flavored bites and beverages to enjoy. It was a true taste of what makes Banana Ball such a sensation, being a spontaneous, joy-filled show where absolutely anything can happen.

Among the standout stars of the day was Derek Klena, who joined the Bananas for the 2026 season as an entertainment player and pitcher, bringing his own theatrical flair and powerhouse stage presence to a team known for their distinctive mix of athleticism and showmanship.

We caught up with Derek ahead of the team’s visit to talk about how Disney Parks influenced his impressive Broadway career, what it’s like stepping onto the field with the Savannah Bananas, and how this day at Disneyland felt like coming home to his Southern California roots.

For many Southern California residents, Disneyland is a formative piece of childhood, and that was certainly the case for Derek, who grew up not far from Anaheim in West Covina, California. He recalls Disneyland Resort as a place where he spent much of his time in those early years thanks to annual passes gifted by his grandparents, enjoying endless magical moments alongside his two younger siblings and parents.

When asked about any favorite Disneyland traditions from his childhood, Derek mentioned parades as something that were always a must-see and remain one of his most treasured components of any Disney day.

Adventureland and New Orleans Square are two of his favorite areas throughout the parks. He remembers many nights hurrying to Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones Adventure just before park close, and called the Enchanted Tiki Room a “staple of childhood.” And he loves hopping on the Disneyland Railroad at Mickey’s Toontown (especially after a long day of walking; I know we’ve all been there) to ride to the front of the park, of course traveling back in time to see the dinosaurs along the way!

Derek had many Disney touchpoints outside of the parks through his childhood, naming Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Hercules and The Hunchback of Notre Dame as two of his most-watched animated films that still inspire and influence him today as an artist. He even recalled Disney’s Sing-Along Songs on VHS being one of his most vivid early memories and interactions with Disney music.

His love for Disney of course also started on stage, with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the old Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles being the first professional show he ever saw. He shared that this was the first time his mom noticed that both he and his sister had an interest in music, which prompted her to enroll them in classes and local theatre. How fitting, as the current reimagined touring production of Beauty and the Beast is set to stop in Los Angeles this summer — maybe it will change the course of someone’s career like it did Derek’s.

That performance of Beauty and the Beast sparked something in Derek, who began taking voice and dance lessons shortly afterwards. He eventually started performing with local children’s theaters in Southern California, doing multiple shows a year as part of these community theatre groups, which allowed him to explore and develop this passion from a young age. He soon began auditioning for productions throughout the region, fondly remembering his mom searching for casting calls in magazines.

Derek said that his Disney beginnings — especially watching shows like “Fantasmic!” and “Mickey and the Magical Map” — gave him his lifelong love for music and inspired him to pursue this path seriously.

If you’re a theatre fan (like me), you may recognize Derek from any number of shows that he has done throughout his career. He originated roles in acclaimed productions such as Dogfight, The Bridges of Madison County, Anastasia, and Jagged Little Pill, playing a role for which he received a Tony Award nomination. Derek also went on to join beloved shows on the Great White Way like Wicked and Moulin Rouge, solidifying his status as a bright Broadway star.

But theatre isn’t Derek’s only interest. He also grew up loving sports and attended UCLA where he played college baseball. He remembers attending games at Angel Stadium as a child, even pitching in a high school championship game that took place there his senior year. Another memorable moment, knowing that the Savannah Bananas are playing two games there this week.

It wasn’t always easy to find the balance between these ventures, though, and there came a time when he needed to decide between pitching on the field or performing on the stage. Even though he chose the latter, Derek has now found his way back to baseball by way of the Savannah Bananas.

This is as full circle as it gets for Derek, seeing how all of his different passions shaped his path and led him to this opportunity with the Savannah Bananas. I asked if he could have ever imagined that his skills and interests would converge in this way, and Derek’s answer? His 13-year-old self-manifested this dream coming true.

He shared that as a young teenager, he was featured on a television program showcasing America’s most talented children, and in his introduction proudly stated that his goal was to play professional baseball and sing the National Anthem before the game. There’s the classic Disney Channel dilemma that you must choose between music and sports (looking at you, Troy Bolton), but Derek now gets to experience the best of both worlds after simply speaking it into existence all those years ago.

Derek said that the possibilities feel endless as part of the Savannah Bananas, and he has shared this mindset with students that he mentors and teaches. His successes are proof you can pursue both athletics and the arts, with the Bananas merging both worlds in an unexpected way and continuing to push the boundaries of entertainment.

And his whole family was in town for the Savannah Bananas Day at Disneyland, including his two children, one of whom celebrated their first Disney Park visit on this trip! Derek shared, “To have them all watch me live both my passions in one place that is already so special and sentimental, now playing Banana Ball, it’s kind of surreal.”

When talking about how this role of a lifetime came to be, Derek credits Broadway composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul as the ones who pitched him to Savannah Bananas owner Jesse Cole, believing that he had the necessary combination of attributes and experiences to represent the team.

Knowing that Derek had played college baseball and had an extensive resume of theatre credits, Jesse invited him to send in a taped audition and then later travel to Savannah, where he showed off his knack for both pitching and performing. And as you may have guessed, the rest is history.

The Savannah Bananas are not your traditional baseball team — there is a blend of elements like theatricality, fan engagement, and specific rules that make games a dynamic, joyful spectacle. As our conversation came to a close, I was curious to ask Derek why he believed Disneyland feels like the right place for the Bananas to again bring this energy and unique form of entertainment.

“Disneyland originated being The Happiest Place on Earth, and I feel like that’s what we’re trying to do with Banana Ball,” he explained. “That is what’s so admirable about Disneyland or any Disney Park, really, is creating an atmosphere that feels safe and inventive, where you can dream big and be accepted, where you can have fun and everybody leaves with a smile. And I feel like that is the environment we are creating, that’s what we have strived towards with the fan-first mentality.”

Whether it’s spectators in stadium seats or audience members at a Broadway show, Derek is using his talents to create happiness and encourage others to chase even the biggest of dreams, which feels perfectly aligned with everything we do here at Disney. His story serves as a reminder that anything is possible, and seeing him bring his love of performance to a whole new stage at Disneyland this week alongside his Bananas teammates was an unforgettable experience.