Summer Scholars On Stage Staff

Stephen Cunetto, Camp Director, retired in 2024 after working for the MSU Libraries for 33.5 years. During his time at MSU he served in several positions including Associate Dean.  He has also served as the President of the Mississippi Theatre Association and then as the Executive Director of MTA for 13 years. He is a long-time member of the Starkville Community Theatre having served on the Board as well as President. He also served as the president of the Starkville Area Arts Council.

Joe Ray Underwood, Camp Director - Emeritus: Joe Ray founded Summer Scholars in 1978 and has worked as the camp director since then. Joe Ray is a retired professor from Mississippi State where he previously acted as the coordinator for the school counseling program. Joe Ray coordinates theatre and music programs for children with the help of the MSU Symphony Association. Joe Ray is an avid musician who specializes in guitar, musical arrangements, and vocal compositions.

Leah Wright, Program Director and Head Counselor, has been working at Summer Scholars since 2005. She has worked a variety of jobs at camp but immediately found her niche in counseling that led her to get a master’s in clinical counseling from Mississippi State University. Leah works hard to ensure that parents and campers feel safe and comfortable over the course of camp. She currently lives in Hoover, AL, with her husband and two furry children.

Lauren Gerhart, Director of Operations, is the Summer Scholars Director of Operations. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Personnel from The University of Mississippi. She currently serves The University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Music as an Academic Advisement Coordinator. Lauren began as a camper during the summer of 2009 and has been on staff since 2013. She’s happy to help provide the Onstage experience to current campers!

Eric Fritzius, Writers Camp Director, is an expatriate Mississippian who has called West Virginia home for the past 23 years. His short plays have been produced across the mid-south, deep south, and above the Mason-Dixon for the Barrington Stage Company in MA. He credits his time as a camper at Summer Scholars with giving him his start as a playwright. His writing has appeared in Greenbrier Valley Quarterly magazine, and anthologies such as Mountain Voices, Dark Tales of Terror, Diner Stories: Off the Menu, Writerly Advice, and In the Midst: a COVID-19 Anthology. He is the author of the short story collection A Consternation of Monsters. He is also an audiobook narrator.  Links to his work can be found at his website MisterHerman.com. The year 2025 marks Eric's 25th year with Summer Scholars.

Joe Evans, Production Coordinator, is a Starkville native and works as a substitute teacher. He holds degrees in Educational Psychology, Music Education, and Counseling. He has been associated with the Summer Scholars program for 42 years.

Louis Codling, Production Director, has been in education and theatre his entire life. As both of his parents were educators it only seemed right to pursue a life in education. He is the first Theatre Education graduate from the state of Mississippi. He received the degree from the Mississippi University for Women in 2018. He also holds two endorsements in English as well as Acting. He started Summer Scholars Onstage when he was fifteen attending the production camp. He has worked as a writer, acting coach, and director at Summer Scholars Onstage. He is now the proud director of Summer Scholars Onstage and the Lafayette Theatre Department in Oxford Mississippi and has been for seven years. He teaches 7th through 12th grade theatre.

Patrick McFadyen, Technical Director, oversees the bustling technical world behind the scenes of the Summer Scholars production. He has assisted with all aspects of backstage work for camp in his years as a camper and technical instructor. Patrick was the Shop Foreman in McComas for four years where he constructed sets for plays and manned the lighting design. Patrick has been responsible for lighting control during over 20 stage productions in his theatre career.

Zak Mayo, Technical Assistant, has been involved with Summer Scholars as a camper from 2008-2010 and as a staff member in various roles for 12 years (plus or minus one year, covid years still through me off!). He’s been assisting with the technical side of the theatre camp for majority of my time as staff with various roles such as stage construction, backstage crew member and more recently, helping in the sound booth. He is currently attending Arizona State University, pursuing a degree in Mass Communications and Media Studies! Locally, he works for MSU Dining Services and is a local DJ and Light tech for some of the venues in town, and an Uber Driver!

Erin Harrison, Choreographer, is 22 years old and her first year of camp was 2015. This will be her 10th summer at camp. In May 2025, she graduated from Columbia University with a double major in English and Creative Writing. In the fall, she will pursue a MFA in Poetry writing at Columbia School of the Arts. She lives in NYC, but I grew up in Ripley and Tupelo, Mississippi. In New York, she works as a cheerleading and dance coach for children ages 2-14.

Kenzie Claire Burchfield, Music Director, is happy to return for her second year as Director of Music at Summer Scholars: On Stage! Kenzie Claire has a B.M.E. from Mississippi State and is currently in pursuit of a M.M. in Vocal Performance at Samford. Prior to this, when she was in high school, she attended camp for three years and absolutely loved it. She hopes she can provide an environment as loving and supportive as she had during her time as a camper.

Ryan Bergman, Songwriting Instructor and Pit Leader, is returning for his second year. From Gulfport, MS, Ryan graduated in 2025 from MSU, majoring in Communications - Theatre and minoring in Business Administration. During his time at MSU, he wrote and produced 3 albums, and has been in many productions in the Starkville Area, ranging from MSU's mainstage and student orgs to SCT. Thanks to his education in Starkville, he is now attending UA's MFA acting program.

Caslyn Trost, Drama Instructor, Dance Assistant and Girls Counselor, is looking forward to her first year working here at Summer Scholars! She is from Oxford, MS and attends Northwest Community College. She is very excited for her first year here and can't wait for an amazing few weeks!

Jaylon Ashford will be the Graphic Artist, Lead Writer, and a Props Maker/Costumer. He was a camper for 2 years and this will be his fourth year as a staffer!

Kensington Frasure, Stage Manager, is currently twenty years old, going into my junior year as Entertainment Technology student at Mississippi State University. This will be her first time working at Summer Scholars and is very excited to start!

Zadie Shockey, Technical Assistant, is a senior Mechanical Engineering major here at MSU. Although this is her first year with MSU Summer Scholars On Stage, she has been a scenic carpenter for TheatreMSU for the last four years. Her favorite shows she has worked on include She Kills Monsters, A Piece of My Heart, and It's a Wonderful Life Live Radio Show. Outside of theatre, Zadie enjoys spending time with her husband, hanging out with friends, and drinking coffee.

Jacob Jordan, Boys Counselor and Music Assistant, is returning for his 18th year to be a part of Summer Scholars Onstage. He will be a Boys' Counselor and a pit musician. In previous years at camp, he worked as a choral assistant, drama assistant, writing assistant, music writing assistant, and played both guitar and bass guitar in the pit. He is happy to fill any role that is needed at Summer Scholars. His main goal this year is to make camp as fun and memorable for campers as it was for him when he was in their shoes.

Liz Jones, Girls Counselor and Programming Assistant, is a returning staff member who will be our Girls Counselor and Programming Assistant. When Liz first attended Summer Scholars in 2013, she could not have predicted that she would still be involved over ten years later. Liz has taken on many roles at camp including camper, Junior Counselor, Senior Intern, Staff Assistant, Dance Assistant, Music Assistant, Girls Counselor and Programming Assistant. Essentially, she will do whatever she can to create a positive and memorable experience for each camper. Liz's favorite part of Summer Scholars On Stage has always been camp bonding night. During the school year, Liz lives in Memphis, TN and is an ELA Teacher and Reading Interventionist at Southaven High School.

Jace Fye, Lead Writer and Boys Counselor, is a senior at Delta State University and will be graduating in December of 2025 with a Bachelors of Commercial Aviation in Flight Operations. He is currently working on my multi engine add on for my commercial pilot certificate. This will be his seventh year at camp, and 5th year doing writers!

Cedar Underwood, Writers Assistant and Props, is currently a student at Hinds Community College and working towards a degree in the sciences. Cedar attended camp for two years, attending both writer's and production camps. This will be his first year on staff and is very passionate about all things related to theater, writing, and nature.

Belmont Phelps, Lead Writer and Drama Instructor, attended writers + production from 2019-2022, though this is her first year as a counselor. She lived in Starkville since she was 2 and is currently a junior culinary student at Mississippi University for Women in Columbus! She did theatre for about 9 years through the public school's productions, the W's theatre program, summer scholars, and my previous camp's productions.

Carissa Palmer, Senior Intern, is a Starkville High School Graduate and will be attending Mississippi State in the fall to major in Elementary Education and Minor in Theatre. She is excited to be returning to my 5th year of camp as senior intern!

Dezmond Williams is the 2025 Junior Counselor. This will make 3 years going to Summer Scholars. So, if you have any question or concern you contact me.