Stoo's Famous Martian American Gumbo

by Matt Barbot

[THEATER FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES] Stoo is a Martian boy who discovers that he can’t grow his favorite fruit from Mars now that his family lives on Earth. Together with his diverse group of human friends, Stoo sets out to invent a brand new “special food” from delicious things on Earth. The result is a “Martian-American gumbo” – and a tale about the unifying power of friendship, music, and sharing a meal.

[THEATER FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES] Stoo is a Martian boy who discovers that he can’t grow his favorite fruit from Mars now that his family lives on Earth. Together with his diverse group of human friends, Stoo sets out to invent a brand new “special food” from delicious things on Earth. The result is a “Martian-American gumbo” – and a tale about the unifying power of friendship, music, and sharing a meal.

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Stoo's Famous Martian American Gumbo

Recommended by

  • Lainie Vansant: Stoo's Famous Martian American Gumbo

    What a sweet way to talk to young people about coming together with folks who are different. I love the idea of breaking bread with the audience -- so lovely!

    What a sweet way to talk to young people about coming together with folks who are different. I love the idea of breaking bread with the audience -- so lovely!

  • Cheryl Bear: Stoo's Famous Martian American Gumbo

    A marvelous celebration of community, music and a meal. The simplicity of the joy of life that adults overcomplicate. Beautiful!

    A marvelous celebration of community, music and a meal. The simplicity of the joy of life that adults overcomplicate. Beautiful!

  • Franky D. Gonzalez: Stoo's Famous Martian American Gumbo

    An inventive, immersive, and engaging way to explore immigration and diversity. Matt Barbot uses that connective tissue in all of our lives, food, to explore issues that adults love to overcomplicate. Best yet, he creates a world where everyone can take part in the wisdom this play imparts to children (and let's be honest, adults too). A fantastic play that will delight audiences everywhere. Barbot truly has a unique and creative mind and Stoo's Famous Martian American Gumb, that beautiful brainchild of his, is proof of that fact.

    An inventive, immersive, and engaging way to explore immigration and diversity. Matt Barbot uses that connective tissue in all of our lives, food, to explore issues that adults love to overcomplicate. Best yet, he creates a world where everyone can take part in the wisdom this play imparts to children (and let's be honest, adults too). A fantastic play that will delight audiences everywhere. Barbot truly has a unique and creative mind and Stoo's Famous Martian American Gumb, that beautiful brainchild of his, is proof of that fact.

View all 12 recommendations

Character Information

This play is written as an homage to the ways food connects us across cultures, and as such the intention is for food to be shared with the audience.

In the workshop production at Peppercorn Theatre at Kaleidium, this was achieved by placing small samples of each specified ingredient in weekly pill containers, and at the right moment the actor playing Stoo would encourage the audience to open the corresponding compartment and eat along with the cast.

Acknowledging, however, that this may be an impediment to production, there’s leeway to discuss removing references to Stoo sharing the taste of food with the Martians in the audience through his antennae.

That said, if food cannot be shared during the performance, I would encourage theaters to take the message surrounding food to heart, and find some way to break bread with the audience.
  • Stoo
    A recently immigrated Martian boy. Everything is new to him.
    Character Age
    8 Earth Years
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Any (but probably Male)
  • Kacey
    An aspiring chef. Stoo's best friend and partner in culinary adventure.
    Character Age
    8 Earth years
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    African-American
    Character Gender Identity
    Girl
  • Billy
    Short of “Guillermina.” Another friend of Stoo and Kacey's. A human encyclopedia. Plays the ukelele.
    Character Age
    8 Earth years
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Mexican-American
    Character Gender Identity
    Girl
  • Amira
    The new girl. Intimidating and a little mysterious. Loves kickball.
    Character Age
    8 Earth years
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Syrian-American
    Character Gender Identity
    Girl
  • Tim
    One of Amira's crew.
    Character Age
    8 Earth years
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Vietnamese
    Character Gender Identity
    boy
  • Jen
    One of Amira's crew.
    Character Age
    8 Earth years
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Girl

Development History

  • Type Commission, Organization Peppercorn Theatre, Year 2018

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Hangar Theatre, Year 2021
  • Type Professional, Organization Peppercorn Theatre , Year 2019