Sacred Heart Major Seminary grad Maureen Blair, Class of '13, sewed the ‘Technicolor Dreamcoat’ used in 2012 and 2026
DETROIT ─ The coat worn by the character of Joseph in last weekend’s presentation of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at Sacred Heart Major Seminary is more than a costume. It’s a legacy, says Gary Blair.
Gary is the husband of the late Maureen Blair, who made the coat in 2008 for a production at St. Thecla School in Clinton Township. St. Thecla is also the home parish of Fr. Brian Meldrum, who was ordained in 2015 and is now an assistant professor of theology at Sacred Heart, director of liturgy, and faculty advisor to the seminary’s theater program.
As a seminarian at Sacred Heart in 2012, Fr. Meldrum was the student director for the seminary’s production of “Joseph.” At the same time, Maureen was taking classes there for a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies, a degree which she completed in 2013. Maureen agreed to let the seminarians use the coat for the 2012 production.
A year after her graduation from Sacred Heart, Maureen was diagnosed with cancer. She died in 2017, to the heartbreak of Gary and their three adult children. She and Gary were high school sweethearts and were married for 37 years.
Fr. Meldrum said of Maureen, “She was a good friend, a gifted seamstress, and a committed disciple.”
This winter, 14 years after Maureen’s dreamcoat was first used at Sacred Heart, Fr. Meldrum and the seminarians chose to bring “Joseph” back to the stage. Fr. Meldrum knew just where to find a dreamcoat for the production, and Gary was delighted to loan it to the place that meant so much to his wife.
“Maureen loved being a student at Sacred Heart,” Gary said. “Her favorite part was being in study groups with the seminarians, discussing theology and canonical law. She did her thesis on reconciliation.”
More than just a colorful coat, Maureen’s creation depicts the dreams in Joseph’s story from the Book of Genesis, chapters 37-42. Among her many gifts, Maureen was a talented quilter and took great joy in designing and making the coat to reflect her faith, Gary said.
“She would be more than pleased that it’s being used again,” he said. “She’d be astounded that there’s still a legacy from her that continues on.”
Paul Keenan, the seminarian who played “Joseph” in last weekend’s show at Sacred Heart, wore the coat that Maureen sewed. Keenan and the other members of the cast and crew met Gary before Friday’s performance.
“This coat is a piece of seminary theater history, and I love that it was made by a graduate of Sacred Heart and a friend of a faculty member,” Keenan said. “Most of what we wear on stage comes from Amazon, but this is so much deeper than that. She gave us a great gift with this coat, and I’m glad we could reprise it on stage. It’s such an honor.”
Gary shared with Detroit Catholic how he felt being in the audience Friday night when Keenan’s character of Joseph put on the coat.
“It was very meaningful to see Maureen's dreamcoat coming back to life with the seminarians,” Gary said. “I think we all hope we touch people's lives in a positive way, and we try to be good role models for others. The dreamcoat was a shining example of continuing to see the impact individuals can have – in this case, the creativity, inspiration and dedication of Maureen.”
To Fr. Meldrum, the dreamcoat symbolizes faith and friendship. He has known the Blair family since childhood and attended St. Thecla school with one of Gary and Maureen’s daughters.
“I think this coat speaks to the staying power of friendship, both of those who are here on Earth and those who are in heaven,” Fr. Meldrum said. “Mrs. Blair was a friend to me and a friend to the seminary, and she still is.”
