Levi Kreis is one of the most honest communicators you will find. He executes his craft with profound vulnerability, a soulfulness that leaves you feeling as though you’ve experienced something deeply personal. In every area of his expertise, Kreis has been awarded for his commitment to the highest quality of entertainment. However, what people value most about Levi is how he makes them feel. To Kreis, art is a real-life conversation that is healing as much as it is entertaining.
In theater circles, Kreis is known for originating the role of Jerry Lee Lewis in Broadway’s Tony-nominated musical Million Dollar Quartet. The role won Levi the 2010 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, a 2010 Outer Critics Circle Award, and a 2010 Drama League nomination. Kreis began workshopping the piece in 2004, also arranging music for the show. His performance demonstrates that even the nuttiest of comedic characters have a human longing, a vulnerability that endears us to their struggle, a truth that offers us hope. Kreis recalls, “I’ve always been a meaning maker. I see art as an opportunity to convey something deeper, something spiritual. When you touch an audience at this level, they remember it forever.”
Other notable stage credits include the Tony-nominated revival of Violet starring Sutton Foster, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, and the national tour of Rent. Kreis’ interest in new works has drawn him to a few theatrical developments such as One Red Flower with Emmy Award-Winning director Paris Barclay and Mozart L’Opéra Rock with Tony-nominated director Lonny Price. These works have appeared at The Kennedy Center, The Village Theater, The Goodman Theater, and the North Shore Music Theater.
In film, Levi is best known for his role as Fenton, Adam’s brother (Matthew McConaughey) in Bill Paxton’s directorial debut Frailty (2001). Levi began his acting career with film and has recently returned to screen with roles in The Divide (2016), The Storyteller (in pre-production) and A Very Sordid Wedding (in pre-production)
Surprisingly, acting was never Levi’s primary pursuit. Kreis is a singer-songwriter whose piano-pop recordings have been featured in key moments on network television shows including The Vampire Diaries, Sons of Anarchy, So You Think You Can Dance, Mob Wives, The Apprentice, Days Of Our Lives, The Young And The Restless, and several films. With four albums to date and a 2009 OutMusic Award for “Stained Glass Window”, the theme song for the Del Shores film Southern Baptist Sissies, Kreis has built a humble but loyal following that continues to expand the reach of his own label imprint Vision 9 Records. Levi is currently writing his 5th album and developing a stage show to accompany the new release.
In the beginning, a 6 year old Levi came home from kindergarten graduation after hearing Pomp & Circumstance and started playing it by ear on the piano with both hands. Soon Kreis was writing his own original classical compositions. His mother held a phone over the piano as Levi played for a professor at Vanderbilt’s Blair School Of Music. A freshman in high school, Levi was given a full scholarship to study piano and composition at Vanderbilt University under a special pre-college program. Upon graduating high school, his credits were transferred to Belmont University where he studied music business. Kreis recorded his first album at 12 years old and began a life of touring. As a young songwriter, Levi had his first Top 10 hit with “Timeless” recorded by the Christian group Selah. Kreis confesses that, to him, songwriting is therapy. Consequently, his lyrics give remarkable insight to the complexities of life and reveal profound emotional intelligence, a distinguishing quality you can expect from all of Levi’s work.
In theater circles, Kreis is known for originating the role of Jerry Lee Lewis in Broadway’s Tony-nominated musical Million Dollar Quartet. The role won Levi the 2010 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, a 2010 Outer Critics Circle Award, and a 2010 Drama League nomination. Kreis began workshopping the piece in 2004, also arranging music for the show. His performance demonstrates that even the nuttiest of comedic characters have a human longing, a vulnerability that endears us to their struggle, a truth that offers us hope. Kreis recalls, “I’ve always been a meaning maker. I see art as an opportunity to convey something deeper, something spiritual. When you touch an audience at this level, they remember it forever.”
Other notable stage credits include the Tony-nominated revival of Violet starring Sutton Foster, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, and the national tour of Rent. Kreis’ interest in new works has drawn him to a few theatrical developments such as One Red Flower with Emmy Award-Winning director Paris Barclay and Mozart L’Opéra Rock with Tony-nominated director Lonny Price. These works have appeared at The Kennedy Center, The Village Theater, The Goodman Theater, and the North Shore Music Theater.
In film, Levi is best known for his role as Fenton, Adam’s brother (Matthew McConaughey) in Bill Paxton’s directorial debut Frailty (2001). Levi began his acting career with film and has recently returned to screen with roles in The Divide (2016), The Storyteller (in pre-production) and A Very Sordid Wedding (in pre-production)
Surprisingly, acting was never Levi’s primary pursuit. Kreis is a singer-songwriter whose piano-pop recordings have been featured in key moments on network television shows including The Vampire Diaries, Sons of Anarchy, So You Think You Can Dance, Mob Wives, The Apprentice, Days Of Our Lives, The Young And The Restless, and several films. With four albums to date and a 2009 OutMusic Award for “Stained Glass Window”, the theme song for the Del Shores film Southern Baptist Sissies, Kreis has built a humble but loyal following that continues to expand the reach of his own label imprint Vision 9 Records. Levi is currently writing his 5th album and developing a stage show to accompany the new release.
In the beginning, a 6 year old Levi came home from kindergarten graduation after hearing Pomp & Circumstance and started playing it by ear on the piano with both hands. Soon Kreis was writing his own original classical compositions. His mother held a phone over the piano as Levi played for a professor at Vanderbilt’s Blair School Of Music. A freshman in high school, Levi was given a full scholarship to study piano and composition at Vanderbilt University under a special pre-college program. Upon graduating high school, his credits were transferred to Belmont University where he studied music business. Kreis recorded his first album at 12 years old and began a life of touring. As a young songwriter, Levi had his first Top 10 hit with “Timeless” recorded by the Christian group Selah. Kreis confesses that, to him, songwriting is therapy. Consequently, his lyrics give remarkable insight to the complexities of life and reveal profound emotional intelligence, a distinguishing quality you can expect from all of Levi’s work.