Mote's 'The Shark Lady' subject of new musical tribute

Two things brought together Christina Meiping Chen and Eugenie Clark. They shared a love for learning about Florida's marvelous marine life and, specifically, the sharks that call its waters home. 

They both also were motivated to share that passion with the wider public. 

Clark founded Mote Marine and ardently advocated for marine protection in the Sarasota community. Her work reached worldwide audiences as visitors traveled to see marine life up close at the City Island-based aquarium, which recently moved to the University Town Center area.

She died in February 2015 at the age of 92, but her legacy only continues to grow, as evidenced by Chen's new tribute to her work.

Chen, a student at Florida State University, wrote a musical show about Clark's life and work. She said she was inspired to help spread the word about Clark's fascinating life for many reasons. But she found it particularly inspiring to tell the story of someone she could relate to, considering they both worked in marine research as women of Asian descent.

Clark worked hard to make her way into the "boys club" of the marine science field during her career, Chen explained.

"I did some research and learned she was Japanese-American," she said. "Most people don't know that. She didn't necessarily have to hide it growing up, but a lot of people didn't know. She was raised in New York City in the '20s and '30s, right before Pearl Harbor happened."

The story tracks her childhood, her entry into college and her following career in science.

"On top of being a Japanese person in that era, she was a woman, and a lot of women weren't yet working as much in the scientific field," she said.

The musical is Chen's major project she has undertaken in pursuit of her master's degree in theater performance and research.

Chen moved to the Sarasota area in summer 2023 for graduate school. Her family has traveled extensively, including to Beijing, and Chen often took summer breaks on Long Beach Island, New Jersey.

"My grandparents had a house there, and I would spend my summers there, always out in the water," she said. "My mother was obsessed with sharks her whole life, and that just rubbed off on me."

Chen said she often attended animal-centric camps over those summers, particularly those at Bergen County Zoo, where her aunt worked. She simultaneously discovered a passion for chemistry while exploring a pre-med track. But she kept searching for a specific scientific focus.

It was Florida's rich marine ecosystem that inspired her to delve into shark research.

She credits Minorities in Shark Sciences with playing an integral role in making the musical a reality, but also for inspiring a greater passion for ichthyology.

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The Sarasota-based nonprofit celebrated its fifth anniversary this summer. It aims to create more opportunities for those interested in research, particularly by breaking down financial barriers. Chen's mother is a supporter of the group, and she passed along the notice that there was a summer internship opening with the group.

CEO Jasmin Graham, now a friend and supporter of Chen's work, loved her idea of creating a musical.

"I didn't know who Genie was until last summer, when I was doing my internship," she said. "Jasmin told me about her and explained how she is well known in the ichthyology community. She has a whole wall dedicated to her work at the new Mote SEA. But, she's not taught as much in a typical science classroom."

Chen said no live performance is ever truly finished until it debuts before an audience. But she has been hard at work writing the script while friend and co-writer Grace Strickert has been busy composing, arranging and writing parts as well.

She said the show will be in the style of a new play workshop with a cast of about 10.

"After we get the missing character, which is the audience members, we'll evaluate, see what landed and what didn't," she said. "Then Grace and I will take a deep dive, go back into the script, and then hopefully have a full Sarasota premiere in 2026-2027."

She said it's difficult to make a direct comparison to the musical stylings of a particular Broadway-style considering the show spans multiple decades, but Stephen Sondheim was a source of inspiration.

"The goal, through the music, is for you to feel like you're in the ocean with her, at times," she said.

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They plan to premiere the show on Dec. 7 at the Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center. This initial showing will be a straight reading, but Chen said she looks to grow it into a full production after gaining feedback from audiences.

Chen said it has been fascinating to learn more about such a prominent figure in the community and how Clark fought to establish herself in a field that was not always welcoming.

Clark opened the original Cape Haze Marine Laboratory in Placida in 1955 as a one-woman operation. The research center grew, expanding to City Island as Mote Marine Laboratory in 1978.

Clark went on to become a research assistant at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, at the New York Zoological Society, and at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. She also received three honorary doctor of science degrees and awards from groups including the National Geographic Society.

Chen thanked Clark's family members and all the other supporters who gave her glimpses into her life and legacy. 

It will be an especially busy time as she is slated to finish her degree in December, but she says it will be exciting to see everything finally come together.

For information on tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit SharkLadyMusical.com.