Levi Kreis was born and raised in Oliver Springs, TN. A prodigy piano player, classical composer and songwriter, he began touring regularly by age twelve. His sophomore year of high school he received a full scholarship to Vanderbilt University for classical piano under a pre-college program. After graduating, he transferred to Belmont University where he aspired to a career in gospel music. Unfortunately, being outed to his campus and consequently the gospel music industry he was forced to amend his dream.

A move to LA traded the religious closet for the entertainment closet and opportunities with major record labels would disappear once discovering Kreis had been outed. But an impulse to attend an open call audition for Rent – no headshot, no resume – would result in Kreis being cast as Roger in the Broadway national tour. He fell in love with the craft and began studying acting with Warner Loughlin Studios.

Levi’s second audition landed him a leading role in the award winning film Don’t Let Go with Katherine Ross and Scott Wilson. The film won Best Picture at the Wes Chester Film Festival, Outstanding Directorial Achievement at the Stony Brook Film Festival and a PRism Award in Los Angeles. His third audition placed him in the role of Fenton, Adam’s brother (Matthew McConaughey) in Bill Paxton’s directorial debut Frailty. Kreis considered that while acting was never his dream, it was his future.

Now a Tony Award Winning actor, Kreis’ undeniable charisma and vocal prowess make him a force in the world of theater. He returned to screen with A Very Sordid Wedding (2017). The picture won Best Comedy, Best Screenplay and Best Ensemble at the FilmOut Festival. He then filmed a modern western called The Divide (2018 which appeared in fifteen different film festivals garnering several awards and wide recognition. But after reimagining the role of Hermes for the First National Tour of Hadestown (2021-2022), it was evident to Kreis that his greatest love is musical theatre. Kreis immediately started work on an original Broadway musical, writing the music, lyrics and book. It is currently in development. (2025)

Kreis is known for originating the role of Jerry Lee Lewis in Broadway’s Million Dollar Quartet, winning the 2010 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, the 2010 Outer Critics Circle Award and a 2010 Drama League nomination. Other notable credits include the first national tour of Hadestown and Broadway’s Tony nominate revival of Violet. As a singer-songwriter, Levi’s music is featured in film and televisio including The Vampire Diaries, Sons of Anarchy and So You Think You Can Dance. Kreis has released ten albums under his own record label Vision 9 Records gaining top ten positions on various charts, #1 music videos and several national tours.