QCT SPOTLIGHT: Felicity Eward
As throngs of excited campers funneled through the stage door for last week’s parent meeting, they were greeted by the friendliest face imaginable: Felicity Eward.
This year, Felicity is serving as an assistant for the Triple Threat Boot Camp (TTBC). If you’ve met her, it’s hard to deny that she is a natural fit for the role. Fun, patient, and always enthusiastic, Felicity has spent the week making copies, assisting the instructors, and sharing her love of the stage with fifty eager campers. You see, at a very young age Felicity developed a passion for the performing arts. To her, performing is “as routine as breathing,” leading her to pursue a degree in music education with a minor in theatre at Simpson College in Indianola, IA.
Her passion for the stage aside, Felicity blends well into the camp for one other very important reason: she, herself, is a former camper. In 2008, then Head of Education Brandon Thomsen decided to create the largest theatrical education intensive that Quincy had ever seen—the TTBC. When she heard about this opportunity, Felicity couldn’t say no.
“I participated in the very first year all the way through high school,” said Felicity who only missed two summers due to school conflicts. “I looked forward to the TTBC all year long!”
Theatre quickly became a safe place for Felicity to explore her imagination, all the while preparing her for the more advanced performing and auditioning world. The skills she would glean from her TTBC participation ultimately gave Felicity the tools she would need to excel as an actor, singer, and dancer.
“The TTBC helped me to be more creative, expressive, and dynamic while setting high standards and teaching me a positive work ethic,” remembered Felicity. “Not only does the training students receive from the TTBC help them to become better performers, but it also helps them build character traits that last a lifetime.”
With good timing and a little bit of luck, Felicity was able to return to the camp that meant so much to her—this time as a volunteer. Volunteering affords Felicity the opportunity to help other students create memories like the ones that she cherishes, all the while allowing her to continue to learn herself. However, it isn’t choreography and techniques she’ll be taking away this summer; it’s a deeper understanding of what it’s like to be an instructor.
“I personally love the energy that bounces between the students and instructors,” commented Felicity. “They feed off of each other to get a working, clean end product. The joy I get to see as they get closer and closer to finishing what they are working on will never get old.”
Although she considers herself lucky to have been a part of this year’s camp, QCT is truly the lucky one for having Felicity involved.