←Recommendations of 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!

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

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.

Matt Barbot is a very imaginative writer who understands how to make complicated issues digestible for young people- literally digestible! Matt uses food to talk about diversity, language, culture, and ethnicity!! This is such a genius concept and it's fun to read. Food is truly universal and it has a unifying effect on all of us, no matter who we are. Children and families will appreciate this story, and will become more curious about new experiences as a result! Loved, loved, loved this.

A charming play for all ages that celebrates similarities and differences through a cast of delightful children and the food of their culture. It builds upon the melting pot concept and gifts us a gentler and more hopeful view of what the USA can be.

I've never read a better analogy for assimilation that when chocolate ice cream melts into pistachio ice cream. Barbot creates a community full of children that celebrates the immigrant experience through food- every ingredient makes us even better, and differences are to be celebrated. A sweet and endearing look that acknowledges the experiences that many children in the US face today. Barbot creates a TYA show that brings joy, yet does not sugar coat. It teaches important lessons with multiple languages through the universal language of food.

What a wonderful play! I’m still smiling after reading it! As a mother, I love that the message of accepting differences isn’t forced or PSA-like blatant. It handles the fear of being different (due to ethnicity, race, language, culture, or the new kid) in a sweet, smart way. The cast is diverse, with clear distinct voices and completely believable interactions. I adore the idea of sharing food (if used) with an audience of kids. It's an attention-holding, participation element that is sure to be hilarious, as kids don’t hold back their thoughts on new foods :-).

A beautiful play for family audiences of all ages about celebrating the differences that make our cultures special. Barbot does a masterful job at explaining why people from diverse backgrounds, nationalities, and ethnicities should be celebrated instead of feared - and he does it with food and song! These are important lessons about the dangers of xenophobia and the strengths of multiculturalism. Every child in the world should see this play and experience the wonderment of Stoo's tasty gumbo.

An incredibly rich yet simple play that spotlights Barbot's skills when it comes into turning a familiar and friendly tale into a complex exploration of who we are and where we come from. This play oozes charm, the characters are vivid and fun, and the message is loud and clear without being heavy handed. A must for young audiences, and a powerful reminder for adults.

Stoo’s Famous Martian Gumbo is a delight! My favorite part is the diverse cast is organic and fully realized. Even the stage directions feel like they are meant to be read by youthful, eager eyes. I love the way the play guides you into accepting the circumstances of the world through the characters, and in subtle ways introduces the themes of acceptance and individual uniqueness. The tone of this play is so joyful and it has the feeling of Blues Clues and Out of the Box—exploratory and generous.