Derek Klena is currently touring nationwide as a pitcher and featured vocalist with the Savannah Bananas, blending elite athleticism and Broadway showmanship in their viral, sold-out “Banana Ball” spectacular. Performing in major league stadiums across the country, Klena brings a one-of-a-kind mix of live music, comedy, and on-field performance to one of the fastest-growing live entertainment experiences in the world.

He most recently starred on Broadway as “Christian” in the Tony Award-winning Best Musical MOULIN ROUGE, directed by Alex Timbers. Previously, he originated the role of “Nick Healy” in Alanis Morissette’s critically acclaimed musical JAGGED LITTLE PILL, for which he received a Tony Award Nomination for “Best Featured Actor in a Musical”.

Derek first broke onto the NYC theatre scene in the 2012 Off-Broadway revival of CARRIE, where he quickly garnered attention from Oscar, Grammy, and Tony winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul to originate the lead role of “Eddie Birdlace” in DOGFIGHT. He received a Clive Barnes Award Nomination for his performance. Derek made his Broadway debut as “Fiyero” in the 10th-anniversary company of WICKED. On Broadway, he also originated the roles of “Michael Johnson” in Jason Robert Brown’s THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY and “Dmitry” in Ahrens/Flaherty/McNally’s ANASTASIA. Other notable theatre credits include starring as “Joe Gillis” opposite Stephanie J. Block in the Kennedy Center’s SUNSET BOULEVARD, Williamstown Theatre Festival’s UNKNOWN SOLDIER, directed by Trip Cullman; Signature Theatre’s DINER, written by Sheryl Crow & Barry Levinson; and the Hollywood Bowl’s star-studded production of HAIRSPRAY, directed by Jerry Mitchell. 

Recently on screen he appeared in the HBO MAX series, PRETTY LITTLE LIARS: ORIGINAL SIN as the infamous “WES.” Derek is also known for his memorable arc as “DJ Fingablast” on Tina Fey and Robert Carlock’s Netflix hit UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT. Other TV credits CITY ON A HILL, THE CODE, and A HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR, PRIVATE PRINCESS.