Kristen Bell made a surprise appearance with the baseball team the Savannah Bananas on Aug. 15, and she certainly brought down the house, er, field.
Bell, who joined the team at their game in Denver, Colorado against the Indianapolis Clowns, performed a medley with Savannah Bananas player Derek Klena, who’s also a Tony-nominated Broadway star. With songs from Bell’s hit film “Frozen,” the musical “Wicked” and more, the two sang their hearts out in front of a packed house of shocked fans.
The Savannah Bananas aren’t your typical baseball team. They’ve amassed a following for their viral dance routines and unique spin on the sport which they call “Banana Ball.” Performances like this are a frequent part of their games.
The latest smash performance, captured in a YouTube video, starts off with Bell in the stands, kicking off the mashup by singing “For the First Time in Forever” from the 2013 animated kid’s film. Making her way down the stadium steps, Bell sings to fans in the crowd, who clearly cannot handle what they’re seeing.
The fun continues with Klena on the field. Accompanied by his fellow Savannah Bananas players who serve as backup dancers, Klena belts out “Dancing Through Life” from “Wicked.” It’s a fitting song for Klena as he made his Broadway debut, playing Fiyero Tigelaar in the musical.
To cap off the medley, the two joined one another on the field to duet “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” from 1987’s “Dirty Dancing.” And, of course, they recreate the iconic final routine in the movie, with Klena lifting Bell up into the air.
It’s perfection.
Video of the performance has, understandably, gone viral. It’s already racked up more than 23 million views on Instagram as of Aug. 16.
It isn’t quite surprising that the performance has been so popular. Bell has long amassed a significant fanbase for her voice acting role as Anna in the “Frozen” franchise. At the D23 fan expo on Aug. 14 in Anaheim, California, she even surprised attendees with a breathtaking rendition of “Frozen Heart” with co-star Idina Menzel, who voices Elsa. The two, along with Josh Gad, who voices lovable snowman Olaf, promoted the upcoming “Frozen 3” film.
Klena, who signed months ago with the Savannah Bananas as a pitcher, has had a critically acclaimed career on Broadway. In 2021, he received a Tony nomination for his role as Nick Healy in Alanis Morissette’s musical “Jagged Little Pill.” Since joining the team, fans have been getting a taste of Klena’s vocal prowess. And his “Phantom of the Opera” performance at Yankee Stadium has become a favorite.
