SPOTLIGHT
Levi Kreis
AN OUT ENTERTAINER WITH
FAITH, PASSION AND SPIRIT
by bill biss
I am one of the many people who viewed Levi Kreis’s video for “Nothing at All” on MTV Music Online. The handsome singer/actor made an impression because of his soulful, southern and spirited voice and intriguing good looks. Levi has just released his third CD titled Where I Belong and while he was writing the songs for his latest collection, he also made the trek to Broadway with the musical Million Dollar Quartet in which he creates “great balls of fire” with his portrayal,
singing and piano playing of Jerry Lee Lewis. The Rage Monthly caught him in between curtain calls to find out more about this very talented and very out performer.
The Rage Monthly: Really enjoying Where I Belong. Just guessing but I gather you are a big Stevie Wonder fan…
Levi Kreis: Yes, I’ve always been a big Stevie Wonder fan, and props to you for
picking that up in my music. It’s amazing how varied people’s references can be when they listen to music.
Rage: Your vocal style and quality of voice seem reminiscent of Wonder’s voice at times, that soulful quality mixed with a robust touch of Broadway showmanship. How would you describe your singing to someone who had never heard you?
LK: Good question. I suppose I only know what I’ve heard the most from people,
and most of my life I’ve been told that people thought I was black when they hear my voice before they see
me...probably because of the heavy gospel roots I have. I would suffice to say “passionate.” I definitely learned my vocal and piano musician- ship from the church where they teach you to “sing and play with conviction!”
Rage: Please explain your reasoning behind the CD’s title Where I Belong.
LK: After touring for the better part of three years, I began to have a much clearer idea what works for me stylistically and what doesn’t so much. I’m proud of my sophomore release, The Gospel According To Levi, for it’s bold message, yet from a musical standpoint it didn’t draw from my strongest influences growing up. I realized that the truest expression of me begins with gospel and southern roots, and a piano in front of me. That’s how we produced this CD, and that’s how we got the title.
Rage: Tell me about landing your role in Million Dollar Quartet and what the experience has been like taking the show to Broadway.
LK: You know, playing the role of Jerry Lee Lewis actually informed the creative
process of making Where I Belong. Delving deep into my southern roots to build the character seemed to have bled over into my songwriting at the time. It’s fun to now have a role on Broadway that I helped develop since 2004 that draws from my roots, and at the same time promote an album that accomplishes the same thing. I never auditioned for this role actually. I was around during the first reading when the producers grabbed me to help out with this new script. I did the table reading, they discovered that I grew up playing Jerry Lee’s music, that I was a strong southern actor and just kept me. From then on, I helped to develop the script ‘til fi- nally we presented it to the world via Chicago in 2008. It’s been non-stop madness since then, and a lot of surprises along the way. I mean, who would have thought a little southern, indie artist like me would suddenly have a spot on Broadway. I’m humbled by it.
Rage: What kind of energy do you bring to your role as Jerry Lee Lewis?
LK: The fun thing about this piece is that I get to concentrate on the first 20 years of
Lewis’ life. There is an assuredness, no doubt, but an innocence that is so charming. I also have found my own relatability to the internal conflict that Lewis expresses between his love for God and “the devil’s music.” I’ve always drawn a little from my own internal struggle, as a boy who had a great passion for God yet believed I was an abomination to him at the same time. More than that though, it’s lovely to be the comic relief of a show. We all have a lot of fun on stage.
Rage: Do you have any favorite Broadway shows that you would like to be in? I would imagine that this is something you would like to pursue more after Million Dollar Quartet ends its run.
LK: I’ve been so busy getting this show up while promoting my current release,
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RAGE monthly | MAY 2010
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