Music Stands - Kansas City Symphony

These music stands were lit in preparation for a performance by Kansas City Symphony.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Deborah Sandler - Opera General Director & CEO

Deborah Sandler is General Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lyric Opera Kansas City.

She started as General Manager of Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, then moved to General Director of Opera Theatre of New Jersey.

Immediately prior to Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Deborah served as General Director of Kentucky Opera.

Deborah's influence is recognized as vital to expanding the role of women in professional opera. She is Steering Committee Chair of Women's Opera Network, a group launched by OPERA America, dedicated to promoting women in the field of opera.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Dr. Jeffrey Colyer - Physician, Medical Volunteer, Lt. Governor

Dr. Jeffrey Colyer holds an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, a Master's degree in International Relations from Cambridge University, and a Doctor of Medicine degree.

His residency training is in general surgery, plastic surgery, and craniofacial/pediatric plastic surgery.

During his residencies, he was named a White House Fellow, and served in the Executive Office of the President, and Agency for International Development under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush.

In time, Dr. Colyer established a successful private plastic/craniofacial surgery practice.

While in practice, he volunteered with the International Medical Corps, providing medical care in Iraq, Rwanda, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, and Afghanistan. This work earned him recognition on CBS's 60 Minutes, PBS, and People magazine.

Dr. Colyer currently serves as Lieutenant Governor for the state of Kansas. He previously served as a member of the Kansas Senate, and of the Kansas House of Representatives.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Howard Elsberry - Former President and Chairman, Westlake Ace Hardware

With a degree in business administration, Howard Elsberry joined T.G. & Y, entering their management training program.

He made a move to Westlake Hardware as Assistant Manager, then Store Manager.

Howard was promoted often within Westlake Hardware, and his rise to the executive level was rapid.

Eventually, he was named Chairman of the Board of Directors' Executive Committee, then Chief Operating Officer, President and Chief Executive Officer. 

Howard, and his wife Anne, are active supporters of many charitable and non-profit organizations.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Bobby Watson - Composer, Producer, Jazz Saxophonist

Backstage - with Bobby Watson.

Bobby will be performing for the second time at the White House April 29, 2016.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Gary Forsee

Gary Forsee held top executive positions within the communications industry for years, including Sprint, AT&T, Cingular Wireless, Global One and BellSouth. As a businessman and civil engineer, he knows every facet of the business.

When he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sprint Nextel Corporation, he was honored as one of the "Best Managers" of 2004 by Business Week magazine.

He went on to serve as President of the four-campus University of Missouri System.

Gary, and his wife Sherry, generously support numerous meaningful projects.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Dave Lindstrom - Football Defensive End

Dave Lindstrom played football at his Massachusetts high school, then Boston University. 

He was honored by being inducted into both the Massachusetts High School Hall of Fame, and the Boston University Hall Fame.

At Boston University, he was the team's Most Valuable Player his senior year.

Dave played a season for the San Diego Chargers, then 8 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. He wore number 71, and was a 6' 6", 258-pound defensive end.

His brother, Chris Lindstrom, played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Dave is a member of Kansas City Chiefs Ambassadors. Ambassadors are hand-picked, and support the community with local scholarship programs, charity golf tournaments, and numerous charitable visits and appearances.
 
Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

SungWoo Lee - Kansas City Royals Fan

SungWoo Lee has been enthusiastic about the Kansas City Royals baseball team for 20 years. He follows the team from his home in Seoul, South Korea.

In August, 2014, he traveled halfway around the world to Kansas City, to see the Royals play in Kauffman Stadium. He was warmly welcomed by fans and players, and quickly became a cult hero.

SungWoo returned in September, 2015, to support the Royals, and to attend the premiere of an ESPN documentary made about him.

An excellent article about SungWoo, written by Reeves Wiedeman, appears in The New Yorker. Read it here.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Brian McCallister - Trial Lawyer

Attorney Brian McCallister attended the prestigious Spence Trial Lawyers College®, founded by acclaimed trial attorney Gerry Spence. The school is invitation-only; very few lawyers are selected by the school's board members.

After graduating, Brian returned as a staff member of Spence Trial Lawyers College®.

Every year since 2004, Brian's peers in the legal profession have selected him as a recipient of the Kansas City Business Journal's "Best of the Bar" award. Only the top 5% of attorneys in metropolitan Kansas City share that honor.

Brian's peers also selected him to serve on the Board of Governors of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys. He presently serves as President of that association for 2015-2016.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Tutu

On-location in Studio 3 at Kansas City Ballet.


Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Melanie Fenske - Rising Star of Philanthropy

Melanie Fenske's nomination as Rising Star of Philanthropy was well deserved.

Melanie and I have worked on projects for Kansas City Ballet Guild, and University of Missouri-Kansas City's Friends of the Conservatory of Music and Dance.

She is a member of the board of directors for MOCSA (Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault), which is appropriate because she was previously with the United States Probation Office, and understands MOCSA's mission well.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved. 

Vinson Cole - Opera Singer

Vinson Cole, tenor, is acknowledged as one of the leading opera singers of his generation.

He has performed in all major opera houses throughout the world, and collaborated with the greatest conductors of this era.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Wedding Photography

Just married.

I first photographed V.Q. when he was modeling for Elite Models in New York City.

J.C. danced with the ballet in Miami, then taught ballet.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

I was one of a few honored as Official Photographer for Kansas City Fashion Week, 2015.

 

Photographs © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Ronnie "Stray Dog" Hall - Thump Milton

Winter's Bone, starred Jennifer Lawrence, and was directed by Debra Granik. 

It won prestigious awards around the world, and received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actor. 

In the movie, a gang was led by “big man” Thump Milton. Thump was played by Ronnie Hall, pictured here.

Ronnie, also known as "Stray Dog", is a Vietnam veteran, rides a Harley Davidson and operates a rural trailer park in real life. 

Watch for the documentary Stray Dog when it runs as an observance of Veteran's Day on PBS. In Kansas City, it is scheduled for Monday, November 9th, at 9 pm on KCPT.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Actor, Model, Esthetician

Jessica.

Living and working the dream in Los Angeles.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Julie

Julie, San Francisco.

Volleyball player, therapist.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Bethel A.M.E. Church - Manhattan, Kansas

Flowers are laid on the steps of the Bethel A.M.E. Church in Manhattan, Kansas, expressing support for this church, and the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.



Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Women with Red Hair

Women with red hair: Striking, fiery, extraordinary.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Crystle Lampitt

Crystle is from Indonesia, and modeled in a variety of countries before becoming an NBC-affiliate news personality.  

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

David Dastmalchian - Actor, Writer

A few days before I met David Dastmalchian, I watched him star in the new CBS television show CSI: Cyber.  His portrayal of the character Logan was haunting.

Among his many credits are The Dark Knight, Prisoners, Intruders and The Employer.  

Look for David in Under the Pyramid and Marvel's Ant-Man, presently in post-production, and being released in 2015.

David has now written and starred in a newly-released movie, Animals, which The New York Times featured in this article. Co-starring with David is Kim Shaw, who is superb as Bobbie. You may also read Roger Ebert's review here.  

Animals received Special Jury Recognition at the South by Southwest Film Festival.

Although David's personality is warm and demonstrative, and his smile engaging, he told me he prefers to be photographed in a more serious fashion. I photographed him this way, and with his uninhibited smile.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Ballet Shoes

Kansas City Ballet dancers use as many as 60 pairs of dance shoes a year. 

Occasionally, a pair is used for one performance only.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Brandy Burre - Actress

When I met Brandy Burre,  her hair was pulled back, and her features, elegance and dazzling smile reminded me of Audrey Hepburn.

You know Brandy from her recurring role as Theresa D'Agostino, the Washington, DC-based lawyer and political consultant in the popular HBO series The Wire.

Among other projects, she also landed a role in Listen Up Philip starring Jason Schwartzman and Elisabeth Moss.

In 2014, Robert Greene collaborated with Brandy to make the  documentary Actress, where she plays herself. She has quite a story.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Bob Gale: Writer of Screenplays and Comic Books

In the summer of 1980, Bob Gale was looking through his father's high school year book and discovered his father was senior class president. He wondered about his fathers personality at that age, what other students thought of him, and what it would be like to be in school with his parents.

He teamed up with Robert Zemeckis, and began writing the movie Back to the Future. 

Their script was rejected 40 times before it was accepted.

Bob and Robert also wrote the two sequels; Bob produced all three.

In 1985, both were nominated for an Academy Award.

Bob has written a host of additional movies, and also written stories for comic books, including Marvel and DC Comics, and was one of the writers on The Amazing Spider-Man.

He resides in Los Angeles.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Jim Eisenreich - Baseball Player

Jim Eisenreich enjoyed a 15-year career playing baseball for both American League and the National League teams, including the Kansas City Royals.

When he played for the Philadelphia Phillies, his excellent batting average helped the team win the National League pennant.

Jim has Tourette syndrome, and he voluntarily took himself out of the game for a few years while he underwent treatment. Kirby Puckett took his place on the Minnesota Twins roster.

He was the first recipient of the Tony Conigliaro Award given annually to a Major League Baseball player who has overcome a significant obstacle in his life.

Jim established the Jim Eisenreich Foundation for children with Tourette syndrome. The goal of the foundation is to help children with the syndrome achieve personal success.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Bob Kendrick - Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

#AfricanAmericanLeaders

"You need to see the pain that (African Americans) have suffered, but you also need to see their successes."

Bob Kendrick is making, and preserving, history as President of the landmark Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. 

It is the only museum in the United States dedicated solely to the Negro Leagues' contribution to baseball and American culture.

Anyone who has been around Bob knows he is an unsurpassed ambassador and historian.

This article, written by Nate Taylor and published in The New York Times, tells the story.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Lee Judge - Political Cartoonist, Writer

Lee Judge arrived at the Kansas City Star newspaper in 1981, after being a political cartoonist for the Sacramento Union and the San Diego Union.

His cartoons have appeared in numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Sun-Times, The Boston Globe, Washington Monthly and National Review.

He also writes a blog, Judging the Royals, an inside look at baseball and the Kansas City Royals.

Lee's work has been featured on Good Morning America, The MacNeil / Lehrer NewsHour and C-Span.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Nate Bukaty - Sports Radio

Nate Bukaty is a part of the morning show on Sports Radio 810 WHB.

 
Nate has traveled with the Kansas City Royals hosting pre-game and post-game radio shows, is a sideline reporter for Kansas University Football, the play-by-play voice for Kansas Women's Basketball and was the clubhouse reporter for FOX Sports Net Kansas City Royals post-game coverage.

Now, Sporting Kansas City, the soccer team, has appointed Nate play-by-play announcer for the 2015 season. He will be the lead voice on locally-televised matches and select radio broadcasts.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Willie Wilson - Baseball Great

It is opening day for the Kansas City Royals baseball team, and I want to honor Willie Wilson. 

Willie was the lead-off hitter for the Royals, and helped win the World Series in 1985.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Chad Troutwine: Entrepreneur, Movie Producer

After earning a law degree, Chad Troutwine was awarded an MBA from Yale School of Management, and a masters degree from Harvard Kennedy School. 

Chad co-founded Spectrum Station, an early childhood education center, then went on to establish Veritas Prep, the world's largest privately-held college test preparatory and admissions consulting company. 

These accomplishments landed him on the cover of Entrepreneur magazine, and Forbes magazine named him Forbes Future Capitalist of the Year.

In his spare time, Chad has produced 15 independent movies.

He resides in Malibu, California.

Photograph © Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Gary Jenkins - Documentary Producer

Gary Jenkins was a police officer for 25 years. He is also an attorney, a book author and a movie maker.

As a police Detective, Gary was part of the Intelligence Unit, utilizing a camera for surveillance. He enjoyed his time behind the camera and decided to pursue a few ideas.
 
Gary started by preserving his family's history through the eyes of his mother, then created lifetime-legacy videos for hospice patients.

Soon, he was producing video projects for organizations. One of his projects is included as part of the curriculum in public school districts and for diversity training.
 
To view Gary's work, go to LifeDocumentaries, and scroll laterally through the images at the top of the page. Subjects include slavery, the underground railroad and organized crime.

Photograph ©Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

United States Marine Corps Dress Uniform

My subject is a Major in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.

Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11, 2015.

Thank a veteran, and anyone currently serving. 

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Dancing Shoes

These lovingly-worn Capezio Tele Tone® tap shoes belong to entertainer Lonnie McFadden, a remarkable singer, trumpet player and tap dancer.

Photograph © 2015 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Alex Czuleger, Talent Manager

Alex Czuleger is Talent Manager at The Green Room in Los Angeles.

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Harley Hood - From The Documentary, "Rich Hill"

This is Harley Hood, one of the principals in the award-winning documentary, "Rich Hill" - Rich Hill Film. 

Watch it on PBS, Monday, January 5th, at 9:00 pm central time.

In this image, Harley is signing an autograph for a fan of the movie.

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson Photography - SAG / AFTRA. All rights reserved.