Cincinnati-area playwrights Paul Strickland and Kate MacDonald took on the story of Pearl Bryan’s notorious murder. In 1896, the 22-year-old music student was found decapitated in Fort Thomas; her head was never located.

The mystery of Pearl Bryan’s case—once called the “crime of the century”—and the location of her head remain today. The case even spawned ghost stories; some say Pearl’s ghost is among those haunting Bobby Mackey’s.

Based on extensive research from newspapers and historical records, Falcon Theatre’s play puts a new spin on the events by telling the story from the perspective of various characters, including Bellevue grocer John Enzweiler.

Pre-show music will be performed by Raison D’etre, a group made up of Violet Rae Webster, Vickie Ellis and Roberta Schultz. According to their website, one critic described the trio of women as “divinely stirring.”