The production Sherlock Holmes: The Crucifer of Blood was directed by Gerald Argetsinger, Ph.D., marking his final production before retirement after 41 years of service at NTID. His journey at the Institute began as a newly minted Ph.D., stepping into the role of Chairperson of NTID’s Experimental Educational Theatre. With support from Bob Panara, the inaugural staged work was Signs of the Times (1975), which became both the first Sign Language production and his first published play.
The following year brought the American premiere of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, in which he also performed the role of the Narrator. Over the decades, numerous productions followed, with notable favorites including What the Butler Saw, Equus, Noises Off, Royal Hunt of the Sun, Taming of the Shrew, and Almost, Maine. Work with the College of Liberal Arts included the direction of eight musicals—among them Man of La Mancha and Little Shop of Horrors—as well as serving as faculty advisor to the RIT Players. That collaboration resulted in productions such as The Rimers of Eldritch, A Doll House, The Visit, Tribes, and a translation of Ludvig Holberg’s Jean de France, which later became one of his published plays.
The Crucifer of Blood represented the final chapter of a long and dedicated career. A Sherlock Holmes mystery offered an energetic and theatrical farewell: five murders, two suicides, and the legendary detective solving it all in the span of two hours.
The production served as a valentine to the NTID/RIT community—an expression of gratitude for decades of collaboration, creativity, and shared artistry. The legacy of teaching, mentoring, and creating alongside generations of talented students stood as the heart of that career, reflecting a lifelong commitment to helping emerging artists prepare for their futures. The opportunity to contribute to their growth and to the life of the theatre remained an enduring source of appreciation and pride.
John Reid Logan Lofgren
Johnnie Duartes Kyle Morris Kendell Charles
Nic Shaw Kelsey Lindhorst Zachary Bridgett
Kyle Morris John Reid
John Reid Zachary Bridgett Nic Shaw
L to R: Kelsey Lindhorst, John Reid, Zachary Bridgett, David Tawil, Logan Lofgren
Nic Shaw Kelsey Lindhorst
L to R: Kendell Charles, Aaron Nusbaum, Johnnie Duartes, Kyle Morris
L to R: Nicole Shay, Zachary Bridgett, Nic Shaw, Kelsey Lindhorst
L to R: John Reid, Logan Lofgren, Kyle Morris, Kendell Charles, Johnnie Duartes
John Reid Kyle Morris Logan Lofgren
David Tawil John Reid
John Reid Logan Lofgren
L to R: John Reid, Zachary Bridgett, Kelsey Lindhorst, Logan Lofgren, Nic Shaw
L to R: Zachary Bridgett, Nicole Shay, Nic Shaw, Kelsey Lindhorst
Zachary Bridgett Kelsey Lindhorst
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