Even if the name “Savannah Bananas” doesn’t immediately ring a bell, you’ve almost certainly encountered their vibrant yellow uniforms and high-energy antics on your social media feeds. This exhibition baseball squad has evolved into the “Harlem Globetrotters” of the diamond, consistently packing legendary venues like Yankee Stadium. Known for their gravity-defying flips, stilt-walking batters, and impromptu live musical performances, the Banana Ball Championship League stars are now taking their showmanship to the recording studio. To ensure their debut single hits all the right notes, they’ve recruited a powerhouse team of EGOT-winning talent.
Atlantic Records has officially announced that the Savannah Bananas are partnering with Ampersand—the production house led by acclaimed songwriters Benji Pasek and Justin Paul—to craft their new anthem, “Show Starts Now.” The duo boasts an illustrious track record, having penned hits for stage and screen staples including Dear Evan Hansen, Only Murders in the Building, La La Land, and The Greatest Showman. They also contributed to Disney’s recent live-action adaptations of Aladdin and Snow White. The creative team for the track also features collaborators Cal Shapiro, Ashley Gorley, and Ben Johnson. In a statement regarding the partnership, Pasek and Paul shared their enthusiasm: “Developing Banana Ball’s inaugural anthem alongside such an incredible group of songwriters was an easy decision. We’ve been captivated by what commissioner Jesse Cole has cultivated over the last decade, and this collaboration has been nothing short of exhilarating.”
The musical pedigree doesn’t stop with the songwriters. The Bananas have also integrated Broadway-caliber talent into their roster, most notably with the addition of Tony-nominated actor Derek Klena, who joined the team as a pitcher earlier this year. Klena has quickly become a fan favorite for his show-stopping musical numbers during games, a talent that bridges his history with Pasek and Paul, having starred in their 2012 musical Dogfight.
Fans can catch Klena and the rest of the Savannah Bananas performing “Show Starts Now” as the opening spectacle for the 2026 ESPY Awards today, July 15. The single is currently available for pre-save across major streaming platforms. Catch the action of the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League—which culminates in the first-ever Banana Bowl this October—by streaming games on Disney Plus and the ESPN App.
