Signature Series: Falcon Theatre Presents ‘The Head of Pearl Bryan’

Friday, January 12, 2024
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Falcon Takes Flight is bringing a new play about a notorious murder case with local ties to the Newport Branch.

Written by Paul Strickland and Erika Kate MacDonald, the performance also includes pre-show music by Raison D’Etre.

The Head of Pearl Bryan

Everyone knows the story of Pearl Bryan—or do we? The story of Pearl Bryan, a young woman who was murdered in 1896 in Fort Thomas, still manages to baffle both the casual and professional historian to this day, especially because her head was never found.

Countless books and murder ballads have been written about the victim, her murderers, their trial in Newport, and the people who were drawn into what once was described as “the crime of the century. Theories of what became of her head also abound.

Now, Falcon Theatre has commissioned a new play, The Head of Pearl Bryan, written by Paul Strickland and Erika Kate MacDonald, Cincinnati-area playwrights.

MacDonald is an internationally touring theatre maker whose original works have been featured on Off Broadway and have won “Best of Fest” honors on over 10 different occasions at Fringe Theatre festivals across North America. Strickland’s collections of stories have won “Best of Fest” honors on over 13 different occasions at Fringe Theatre festivals across North America. He has also appeared Off Broadway at the Soho Playhouse and has been a featured teller at several fests.

The Head of Pearl Bryan offers a decidedly different spin on the case, highlighting some of the personalities, many of them northern Kentucky individuals, whose lives were forever changed by the strange series of circumstances. Based on newspaper articles of the time, extensive historical and genealogical research, The Head of Pearl Bryan is a true ghost story.

About Falcon Takes Flight

Falcon Takes Flight is Falcon Theatre’s outreach wing which performs reader’s theater-style pieces around the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati area.

Falcon Theatre is located at 636 Monmouth St., Newport, KY 41071. Learn about their current season at falcontheater.net.

About Raison D’etre

Raison D’etre is made up of three women: Violet Rae Webster, Vickie Ellis and Roberta Schultz. Per their website, one critic described them as “divinely stirring.”

The trio blends genres, singing everything to traditional folk songs to a cappella to swing tunes to cowboy anthems and more. Raison D’etre have been juried into Kentucky Art Council’s performing arts directory and can be found sharing their talents across the commonwealth.

Thank You!

 

Thank you to the Friends of the Campbell County Public Library for making Signature Series possible.

Friends of the Campbell County Public Library help by volunteering for a number of tasks from hosting library events to assisting staff with special projects. They seek to create public support for the library by keeping the community informed about library services.

Join the Friends

Newport Branch