THE SHARK LADY

by Christina Mei Chen

Book Music and Lyrics by Christina Mei Chen
Music and Lyrics by Grace Strickert

Genie Clark has always wanted to swim with fish after spending every Saturday at the Battery Park Aquarium as a child in New York City. She fearlessly pursues her education and career in marine biology, but the patriarchal and white nationalist political climate of America in the 1940s presents roadblocks to every path Genie tries to embark on. Determined to follow her dreams, Genie refuses to give up, and...

Genie Clark has always wanted to swim with fish after spending every Saturday at the Battery Park Aquarium as a child in New York City. She fearlessly pursues her education and career in marine biology, but the patriarchal and white nationalist political climate of America in the 1940s presents roadblocks to every path Genie tries to embark on. Determined to follow her dreams, Genie refuses to give up, and forges her own path while paving the way for other “difficult women” who journey on after her - all while working selflessly to protect the sea and the sharks that inhabit it.

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THE SHARK LADY

Character Information

This play is still in development and as such the cast/character size continues to evolve. This is an ensemble based piece where actors play multiple different characters, and every actor is a part of the Ocean Ensemble, singing from the point of view of the ocean.

From the most recent workshop, these were the character breakdowns:

PERSON 1
GENIE
OCEAN ENSEMBLE

PERSON 2
YUMICO
HUNTER COLLEGE STUDENT
CENTRAL PARK MOM
BOAT MIKE
NIRAIBUI
OCEAN ENSEMBLE

PERSON 3
NORMA
BETTY
OCEAN ENSEMBLE
GRANDMA YURICO

PERSON 4
HUNTER COLLEGE STUDENT
ANITA
ASIH MEMBER
OCEAN ENSEMBLE

PERSON 5
SYLVIA
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT
OCEAN ENSEMBLE
BOAT MIKE
NORMA’S MOM





PERSON 6
YOUNG GENIE
HUNTER COLLEGE STUDENT
BOAT MIKE
RED
CENTRAL PARK CHILD

PERSON 7
HUNTER COLLEGE STUDENT
DR. CARL HUBBS
ILIAS
OCEAN ENSEMBLE
HOUSELESS JOE
NORMA’S DAD

PERSON 8
NOBUSAN
UNCLE WALTER
SIAKONG
OCEAN ENSEMBLE

PERSON 9
WHITE MIKES
DR. HANDLEY
FDR
HUNTER COLLEGE STUDENT
OCEAN ENSEMBLE
  • PERSON 1: GENIE et al.
    Asian -- Japanese,
    Asian
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • PERSON 2: YUMICO et al.
    30s-70s
    Asian,
    Asian -- Japanese
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • PERSON 3: Norma et al.
    20s-30s
    Western Asian,
    Any -- not East Asian,
    Indigenous/Native American/First Nations,
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • PERSON 4: ANITA et al.
    30s-40s
    African American/Black,
    African American/Black
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • PERSON 5: SYLVIA et al.
    20s-30s
    White
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • PERSON 6: YOUNG GENIE et al.
    someone who can play young authentically but also mature upward for the other ensemble roles.
    9-18
    Asian,
    Asian -- Japanese
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • PERSON 7: ILIAS et al.
    20s-30s
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • PERSON 8: SIAKONG et al.
    also plays Nobusan, must have some proficiency in basic Japanese.
    40s-50s
    Asian,
    Asian -- Japanese,
    Asian -- Palaun
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • PERSON 9: WHITE MIKES et al.
    plays all of the white men in the show.
    30s
    White,
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man

Development History

  • Reading, Self Produced with Minorities in Shark Sciences, 2025