THE HENRY CLYDE CANNING MURDER HOUSE by Christian Missonak

Rehearsal photos during tech week.

THE HENRY CLYDE CANNING MURDER HOUSE by Christian Missonak—First Place Winner of the VOX NOVA Playwright Festival—had its World Premiere at the illustrious Moving Arts in Atwater Village from June 5 to June 21, 2026.

THE STORY: ​Years after Henry Canning’s conviction for the murder of sixteen women, his children live very different lives. Elise has remained on the infamous family property, running it as an archery school, while her brother Harry has built a career exploiting their father’s crimes through true crime media. When Harry returns home with plans to transform the property into a murder house attraction, the siblings are forced to confront buried truths—and the lingering shadow of their father.
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Blending psychological tension with dark humor, THE HENRY CLYDE CANNING MURDER HOUSE explores the commodification of trauma, the allure of true crime, and the cost of living in the aftermath of violence.

THE CAST:
ELISE - Amy Jean Shaughnessy
HARRY - Christopher Karbo
VERA - Jen Ridgway
LUKA - Alec Gaylord

THE TEAM:
Director / Sound Design: James Castle Stevens
Set Design: Jan Munroe
Lighting Design: Ellen Monocroussos
Costume Design: Christine Cover Ferro
Stage Manager / Board Op: Paul Reid

Some highlights from the STAGE RAW review:

“Directed by James Castle Stevens, the piece benefits from dialogue that flows naturally and a sibling conflict with a sound psychological base. And it helps the production that Shaughnessy delivers a convincing Elise…”

“Elise, understandably, is angry and resentful, and she directs a lot of her anger at Vera, a poised chilly woman with that ever ready, false smile that characterizes ambitious Hollywood achievers (Ridgway delivers a pitch perfect replica of the type.)”

“As Luka, the outsider drawn in, Gaylord has a sympathetic presence…”
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“Other pluses include lighting by Ellen Monocroussos, used sparely but effectively, and the foreboding sound design (director Stevens).”