Talented cast of seminarians ready to present rousing musical mystery comedy

'The Bluff' is the first on-stage musical at Sacred Heart since 2016; screenplay is original creation of Gary seminarian, friends

DETROIT — In 2023, seminarians at Sacred Heart Major Seminary took to the stage with the play “A Man for All Seasons” after a four-year hiatus because of the pandemic. This year, they’re upping the ante with the world premiere of a musical co-written by one of their own.

“The Bluff” will take the stage March 22 and 23 in Sacred Heart’s auditorium. Both shows begin at 7 p.m.

The musical tells the story of Dexter Dull Jr., a young man who wants to become a world-renowned detective like his father. As Dexter attempts to prove himself by solving a murder case in a single night without the help of his father, hilarity ensues along with twists, turns and memorable songs and characters.

10 years in the making

"The Bluff" is the brainchild of transitional Deacon Steven Caraher, a seminarian from the Diocese of Gary, Ind. Ten years ago, his friends from northwest Indiana, Matt Kresich and Scott Peters, decided to write a musical. They got off to an impressive start, writing a rough script and song titles for 12 tunes in just four days. Several years later, Deacon Caraher joined forces on the project with Kresich, Peters and another mutual childhood friend, George Jurincie.

Then, in 2020, when COVID-19 restrictions left the four with extra time on their hands, they polished the script, refined the music, and waited for the right opportunity to bring it to the stage.

Their chance came when Deacon Caraher, who co-directed last year’s Sacred Heart play, was in search of a script for this year’s production. The time seemed right to bring “The Bluff” to life, knowing he had a group of eager seminarians, both with and without theater backgrounds.

“I’ve been emboldened and encouraged by my brothers who are sacrificing their time, and a bit of themselves, for the greater good of the seminary and for a common project that we’re all working on together,” Deacon Caraher told Detroit Catholic.

Casting call

Joseph Lennon, a first-year theology seminarian for the Archdiocese of Detroit, was involved in theater productions as a student at St. Frances Cabrini High School in Allen Park. As a camp counselor at Camp Sancta Maria in Gaylord for two summers, he performed skits for campers almost daily. For “The Bluff,” he steps into the role of Chauncey, a man who writes a musical with his brother, Larry, played by Ethan Wilcox of the Diocese of Marquette. As the musical unfolds, the pair hopes to see their names in lights one day, but the reviewers have other ideas.

“This show is so much fun. It reminds me of ‘The Greatest Showman’ in a sense because the songs are constantly going in my head,” Lennon said.

Lennon believes that that while the musical is light and fun, it also speaks to the human heart.

“I especially like one song with Dexter, the main character, and his father. There’s a parallel with God the Father speaking to us, telling us that He’s loved us all along,” Lennon said.

Other seminarians had to be persuaded to audition for the musical. Detroit seminarian Liam Mulligan never considered acting or singing on stage, but after some prodding by friends such as Lennon and Deacon Josh Fons of the Diocese of Lansing, Mulligan agreed to audition.

“I was only trying out for a role in the chorus, but Deacon Steven had other plans, and I’m in a speaking role playing a sleezy 1920s Wall Streeter,” Mulligan said.

Mulligan sang in the Chant Schola at St. Joseph Shrine in Detroit before he entered the seminary, and he’s been known to sing at the top of his lungs on long drives when alone in his car. His greatest fear about being on stage is that he won’t be able to suppress his laughter.

“The show is just so funny that I cannot stop laughing at rehearsals. There are so many totally ridiculous lines,” Mulligan said. “I’m excited to see it all come together at tech rehearsals and then to see other people react to it.”

Rhonwyn Martin, a student at Sacred Heart pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in pastoral theology, didn’t even know Sacred Heart had an auditorium, much less a theater program. Deacon Caraher asked Martin to audition for last year’s play after Fr. Clint McDonell, Martin’s Latin professor, noticed her sweatshirt from her high school’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” She was part of the cast when she was a student at Divine Child High School. Martin enjoyed being in last year’s play, and gladly auditioned for this year’s debut musical.

“I feel honored to be playing this character for the first time. I’m not nervous about it because it’s almost as though it’s been done before. Everything flows so well that it feels like we’re following in footsteps that have already been made,” Martin said.

A longstanding tradition

Theater performance has been a tradition at Sacred Heart since the 1930s. On the wall behind the stage in Sacred Heart’s auditorium, cast and crew members from previous theater productions left their mark with graffiti commemorating their shows. The oldest one dates to a 1955 performance of “The Caine Mutiny.”

Even Detroit's current leader, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, was once a cast member; a photo in a book by Mary Massingale honoring the seminary's centennial shows the future archbishop in the cast of "Murder in the Cathedral" in 1969.

Fr. Brian Meldrum, assistant professor of theology and director of liturgy at Sacred Heart, is the faculty adviser for “The Bluff,” and also a driving force behind the revival of the seminary's theater program.

Before coming to Sacred Heart as a seminarian in 2009, Fr. Meldrum directed high school and community theater productions. A play had not been performed since 1982 at Sacred Heart, and with promptings from Fr. Stephen Pullis, who was several years ahead of Fr. Meldrum in the seminary, he joined forces with Fr. Matthew Hood and other seminarians to restart the theater program, beginning with a play that had been performed at the seminary several times before, “12 Angry Men.”

“Theater used to be part of the regular liberal arts education that the (seminarians) received,” Fr. Meldrum said. “It was a big part of the life of the house and the formation of the men because of all the positive ways it contributes to helping with ministry by being in front of people and showing joy and enthusiasm. That’s still true today.”

The seminary's auditorium has seen a variety of productions from Shakespeare to “Seussical,” the last musical performed in 2016. A capital campaign is under way to restore the 100-year-old hall, including roof work on the outside and improved audio-visual capabilities, new carpet and seats, and restoration of the historic beauty on the inside.

Ready for opening night

As final rehearsals take place, the cast of 23, the crew of 16, and the musicians are preparing to welcome visitors for the world premiere of “The Bluff.” Deacon Caraher prays that patrons will be entertained and will enjoy the opportunity to watch a never-before-seen musical.

“I think people are going to be surprised at the talent we have this year. They might even leave the show wondering if all those men were seminarians, or if we brought in outside talent,” Deacon Caraher said. “We’re way too blessed here.”

Deacon Caraher will be in the audience at both shows with his co-writers, parents, family and friends, taking in the show he helped bring to life in his final months of seminary before he is ordained a priest. For him, it’s a dream that God is making come true.

“I’ll be sitting there watching all my brother seminarians, and I know I’ll be so proud of them and the beauty they created through God’s glory,” he said.

Deacon Caraher and his friends Kresich, Peters and Jurincie have a second dream: to see “The Bluff” performed by a Catholic high school cast one day.