Kickin’ Ass and Takin’ Names

Measuring Success One Failure at a Time

Originally meant as a scripted finalé to his trilogy on the underbelly of the self-help movement, Lepore decided to open his creative process to the public as a mash-up workshop/ laboratory/ talk show and performance experiment in order to find the essence of what will become an interactive touring piece.

Lepore will give his final eye roll to new age and self-help charlatans through a spectacle that will look at the meta-examination of both failing and succeeding in real time. As he slowly climbs out of the emerging artist label towards mid-career artist, Lepore will reflect back to his audience why so many people in this position throw in the towel.

Through a partnership with Eastworks, Lepore will be using a space in exchange for a 10% donation (up to $500) of his earnings to the Easthampton Community Center. So when you donate, you're also helping feed those in need.

Lepore uses the framework of a die hard 12 hour performance to answer these key questions:

*Can one cut through the noise to get enough attention so people know about the web-a-thon, never mind watch it?

*Can one demonstrate the strange notion of commodified theatrical “value” through the process of an end of the year fundraiser?

*Can one show the full scope of possible actions in terms of failing and succeeding on a cultural level, as well as the process of personal past reflections and observations?

*Can one… Do one actually make an impact with their work? Can that be measured? Does it need to be measured?

*Is the live streaming of live theater the “answer”?

Lepore will unfold, over the course of a marathon theater experience, the residue that makes Kickin’ Ass and Takin’ Names his tour de force. The Show/ Fundraiser/ Documentary/ PR Stunt will deal directly in real time with the fact that this piece could be an utter and complete flop, blowout success or worse… neither. It will ultimately try to accomplish too much at once. Lepore will embrace and simultaneously repel America’s fascination with social success and rubbernecking train-wrecks.

Lepore will challenge several skewed “truths”: that one must fail again and again in order to succeed... that in America we all have the same capacity to reach our goals if we work hard enough... that only the precious few can be titans in their industry... Through this lens, Lepore confronts himself and his audience to think outside the binary solidity put forth by our cultural expectations and make a statement as to why limitations are a good, good thing.

Live streaming can be accessed on his website sethums.com or Howl Round TV and all donations made through IndieGoGo are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.