Wright Alum Turned Actress Marie Tredway Returns to Choreograph Spring Musical

During her time at Wilbur Wright, she was the president of the Drama Club and performed in and directed several productions while studying to be a nurse. Yet, after a conversation with her teacher and mentor, Theresa Ham, she decided on pursuing her dreams in the theater.

Actress and Choreographer Marie Tredway

Although Tredway was a single mom and her newly chosen career path wasn’t a stable one, she kept auditioning and taking every step towards accomplishing her goals. Now, Tredway has played Nurse Trini in Chicago Med for four years and 50 episodes, and her career is just starting.

Wilbur Wright is “where it all started” for Tredway’s acting career. Tredway said she learned the foundations of what it meant to be an actor and director from her professor Thomas Murdock. Tredway was in her late twenties when she received her bachelor's degree, sharing that “it’s never too late” for students to manifest their dream lives, as long as they control their thoughts and decisions. She believes that due to her positive mindset, she has attracted great opportunities and will continue to do so in her career.

Speaking about why she feels it's vital she gives back to Wright, Tredway said that “students don’t know what they want to do, so if I can help maybe inspire them or help fill in their gaps then it’s my way of giving back to a place that’s helped me start my career." One of the next steps in her career is telling her story.

Storytelling has always been a passion for Tredway, especially stories including diversity and representation. As a first-generation Filipino-American, the oldest daughter of an immigrant family, and someone who hasn’t followed the “normal” path in life, she expressed her passion for storytelling.

For Wright students who are chasing their dreams, Tredway expressed the importance of showing up every single day, making connections, and giving 100 percent, as this work ethic is crucial in the industry, more so than talent. She drew on her time at Wright and how her connections to professors have resulted in her being recommended for productions and roles. Tredway also shared the mantra that has brought her success in the theater industry, “stay humble and stay hungry."

“Artists are not robots," Tredway explained, “in order to portray humans you have to be human."

Caterina Benincasa, a current student at Wright who has been working with Tredway on the spring play as she prepares to play Olive Ostrovsky, said, “I look up to her a lot, and finding out that she was a student here at Wright once too really makes me feel like I can achieve my dreams too."

"She got to where she is by putting in the work and being the best person she could be all day every day," added Benincasa.

Wright’s spring musical has its remaining showings on March 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m.