Levering was born in Sacramento, California. Levering attended El Camino Fundamental High School, where she took part in school musicals and dance classes before graduating in 1997 and leaving for New York City to pursue a career on Broadway. In 2001 she was cast as Peggy Sawyer in the revival of "42nd Street". She was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical category and won the Fred Astaire Award for Best Female Dancer for her tap dancing in the show. She only performed the role on Broadway for a short three-month period, and is featured on the cast album, but is not taped for Lincoln Center Archives.