Levi Kreis brought some southern sensibility to this Sunday’s Tony Awards when he won for featured actor in a musical for his portrayal of rocker Jerry Lee Lewis in “Million Dollar Quartet.”
We interviewed Levi as he had just moved to Chicago to perform in the trial run of “Million Dollar Quartet” the musical that won him the Tony. Congratulations! Originally posted on Oct. 9, 2008.
Raise the roof y’all! Levi Kreis is in the house and there’s a whole lotta shaking going on.
Forgive my corny pun, but the dazzling singer and piano rocker is in Chicago at the Goodman theater co-starring in the new musical “Million Dollar Quartet” about the legendary Sun records jam session that took place on December 4, 1956, when four of popular music’s most extraordinary talents (Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley) who were all in their creative prime, came together for a night of music that would help lay the foundation for rock and roll.
Levi Kreis embodies the rebellious musician Jerry Lee Lewis in the show and wows the audience with both his on and off piano acrobatics and the power of his raw, passionate voice.
In many ways, Levi is a lot like the musical legend he portrays- Levi was expelled from his Baptist University for questioning the Bible’s take on homosexuality and Jerry Lee Lewis challenged the moral code of his day. They both reject of their conservative upbringing while still embracing its musical roots.
Click here to get tickets to see “Million Dollar Quartet.”
When we last talked to Levi, he was on tour across the country with his new album “The Gospel According to Levi” and shared with us a frank look at his life and his relationships.
You’re in for a treat today as Levi super-soaks us with his music and his voice and performs live in the home studio his hits and new songs from his upcoming album “Where I Belong” scheduled to be released in January 2009.
It’s rare to find musician whose sassy personality matches their mastery of the piano and whose showmanship only helps to reveal
the power of their music.
He’s such a dazzling musician, charming personality and a whole lot of fun. We wish the show didn’t have to end, and neither will you because having people like Levi on the show is what keeps me personally going.
Levi is also giving away a free song from his upcoming album to all the subscribers of the Feast Blast- click here to subscribe.
Levi shares with us every delicious morsel of music that he has in his body, as he spends over an hour chatting with us about his unusual career and how he reconciles his religious upbringing.
Goodness gracious it’s Feast of Fools!
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VIDEO: Levi Kreis – Nothing at All
FOF #1282 – Tony Award Winner Levi Kreis and Friends – 11.04.10
Carol Channing: Then and Now
6 Comments
Comments
Congrats Levi!
Hi guys!
Well for some reason in the last week your podcast has manage to turn me into an 80′s latin schoolgirl waiting for the next Menudo song; so it’s easy and inviting to send you some love from Montreal.
Levi Kreis, is really adorable and he has a compelling voice. I love to see how his idea of religion and relationships has evolved to be as far as possible as a fundamentalist conception of God’s laws.
I wonder if receiving the label of openly gay musician is not a double sided blade, for the good and for the bad. I think for youngsters and people who are still in the closet is great to have such an adorable and successful role model. On the other hand the label can be limiting. I think I would like to think of people like Levi as a talented artist that happens to be gay. His charisma, talent and music feel universal in the sense that the can be appreciated by any person, regardless of gender and sexuality.
On another topic, I found the conversation about open and close relationships very different. I think there’s no good answer, but to take the one thats works better for you and your partner. But still I would be great to have you discuss it more thoroughly on the show.
Keep up the good work guys!
Damian Siqueiros (CKROSS)
Awesome episode! XD
This is the first time I listened to this espisode and it is faaaabulous. I loved it. Levi is hoooot and his voice and songs are soo good. I am becoming a new fan of him. My favorite part of the show was the duet of Fausto and Levi. Fierce!!!! Can’t stop smiling in my car.
Love u guys