Tony Winner Levi Kreis Discusses 'Hadestown', 'Violet', & Getting Clear About Who You Are!

Levi Kreis is an artist I have followed for many years ever since his amazing performance as Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet which earned him a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor! Pretty soon, Levi will be hitting the road in the North American Tour of Hadestown where he'll be playing the role of Hermes. Other notable stage credits for Levi include the Tony nominated Broadway revival of Violet starring Sutton Foster, Smokey Joe’s Cafe at Arena Stage, and Pump Boys And Dinettes at The Village Theater. Levi was also part of the original cast of One Red Flower: Letters from ‘Nam which is a musical based on the book Dear American, Letters Home From Vietnam.

Levi has also truly left his mark in the music world. Other than "Nothing at All" being one of my favorite songs that is still in my mix to this day, his compositions have been featured on Days Of Our Lives, Young And The Restless, The Vampire Diaries, Sons of Anarchy, So You Think You Can Dance, Mob Wives, and films The War Room and Kiss The Bride. He has released nine albums to date. He released his new EP "Bad Habit" in March (2020). It is a true understatement to say that it is a complete honor to feature such a talented artist! I am very thankful that Levi took the time!

How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a singer and performer?

Early on. After kindergarten graduation and hearing Pomp And Circumstance, I came home and played it by ear on the piano. My parents suddenly realized they needed to start my education in music. I sang in church for the first time at 8 years old; I was on the road every weekend touring the southeast by the time I was 12 years old. So, I grew up rather immersed in it.

Where did you study? Do you have any mentors that truly help make you the amazing Artist you are today?

Warner Loughlin has left the biggest impact on me from a theatrical standpoint; she was my acting coach from the beginning. And honestly, that kind of ability to embody a character, a scene, a song definitely translates through my performances as a singer/songwriter. It makes certain I am always coming from an honest place.

Congratulations on Hadestown. What excites you most about performing in this show?

I adore this show, and the first time I saw it on Broadway, I loved the character of Hermes and started imagining what I would do to make it my own if I ever had the chance to do it. And here I am - so grateful to be a part of this. This story is so rich, layered, and relevant. The talent in this touring family is insane. I'm most excited for audiences to experience the impact of this story.

Are there any roles, shows, moments, or performances in your career that stick out and will always have a special place in your heart?

I've confessed in past interviews that it took me a while to find my power and confidence not only as an actor, but as a man. For me, that confidence began to congeal the more years of sobriety I acquired. I really trust my inner compass now; it's never wrong. But at the time I was in the Broadway revival of Violet, I just wasn't quite in my power. The work was solid, but having a sense of authority around my craft was not quite there. I could not have been more inspired by doing eight shows a week with Rema Webb, Charlie Pollock, Jacob Keith Watson and Sutton Foster.

I don't know if I have ever even voiced what my inner growth experience was, but being in that space with such a good group of actors made me say, "okay, I belong here. I can release all the negative self-talk and finally embrace who I am." I do have a feeling experiencing the role of Hermes is going to be my favorite experience thus far though too.

What advice would you give any young aspiring artist?

I would say to spend less time worrying about what you think they want you to be and get really clear about who you are. Lean into it. I would also remind young aspiring artists and actors that there are countless talented people. Be the one with the strongest work ethic and the best reputation to work with, and you'll go farther than 95% of them. It's so true.

The North American touring production of Hadestown, will kick off on October 5 in Greenville, South Carolina. For more information, please visit - https://www.hadestown.com; To learn more about Levi make sure you visit his official website at - https://www.levikreis.com