Derek Klena talks Broadway and Savannah Bananas baseball on CBS Saturday Morning

Tony-nominated Broadway actor Derek Klena is bringing the language of the stage to a baseball team that has made spectacle part of its business model. In a sit-down with CBS Saturday Morning, Klena discussed his latest role as both performer and player for the Savannah Bananas, a crossover that captures how entertainment and sports now compete for the same attention, the same tickets and, increasingly, the same fans.

Klena’s move matters because it reflects a larger shift in how live events are packaged and consumed. Traditional baseball has long sold competition first. The Savannah Bananas have built a different proposition: a game that treats every inning as part of a larger show. That approach gives Klena a natural home. A Broadway actor is trained to command a room, hit a cue and hold an audience through rhythm and timing, which are the same skills that can make an in-person sports event feel unforgettable.

The appeal runs deeper than novelty. In an era when viewers can stream almost anything at home, live entertainment has to offer something that cannot be replicated on a phone or television screen. The Bananas have leaned into that reality by turning baseball into a high-energy experience rather than a conventional nine-inning contest. Klena’s arrival shows how porous the line has become between athlete and performer, and how value now comes from the total event, not just the final score.

That crossover also points to a business truth. Spectacle helps teams reach audiences that traditional leagues often struggle to hold, especially younger fans who expect personality, pace and constant engagement. Klena’s presence gives the Bananas another layer of cultural reach, tying Broadway polish to a baseball product built for viral attention and live crowd response. It is a reminder that the future of fandom may belong to organizations that understand performance as well as they understand play.