Derek Klena Plans Phantom-Inspired Yankee Stadium Entrance at 34 as Savannah Bananas Blend Broadway and Baseball
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 17
Derek Klena Plans Phantom-Inspired Yankee Stadium Entrance at 34 as Savannah Bananas Blend Broadway and Baseball
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 17
Derek Klena, 34, said he plans to enter from the Yankees bullpen at Yankee Stadium in a Phantom of the Opera-style bit, singing onto the field in a cloak and half-mask.
The Savannah Bananas pitcher wants to recreate the musical’s signature imagery with a lantern, microphone and possibly a boat rig attached to a power scooter, though he said the prop could still flop.
Klena joined the Bananas months ago, pausing his Tony-nominated Broadway career to merge theater with the team’s choreographed, entertainment-first version of baseball.
That crossover reflects the Bananas’ broader formula: a decade-old barnstorming club that sells out stadiums and has built a huge social audience, including 11.5 million TikTok followers.
How did the Bananas build a $500M empire with zero marketing spend, out-profiting several MLB teams?
Is the Savannah Bananas' entertainment-first model the future of sports or a threat to athletic integrity?