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As Chairman of the Time
Travelers program at Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School in Burbank,
California, I knew I wanted to do something very special to celebrate the
bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. Although we had successfully
utilized our parent volunteers to portray historical figures over the past
two years, the students were always at least partly aware of the true
identity of the Time Traveler. It was my sincere wish to suspend the
belief of the entire student body by bringing Lincoln to life on our stage
in a way that would keep the kids truly wondering.
I met Tom Katsis through
a mutual friend many years ago but he made a very memorable impression
with his distinctive voice, mild manner and impressive stature. When I
later learned that he was a Lincoln impersonator, it all made perfect
sense. Even without wardrobe and makeup, Tom shares the commanding
presence of our 16th President at the height of 6’3” with the
distinguished jaw line and striking eyes of the great man. When I met with
Tom to discuss the possibility of appearing at our school, he conveyed
both a scholarly knowledge of the President along with many anecdotal
stories. I knew he was the man for the job!
When Tom arrived at our
school the day of the performance in full costume, the faculty was
absolutely blown away by is resemblance to Abraham Lincoln. When he
appeared on stage in front of nearly 500 students (kindergarten to fifth
grade), the children were mesmerized and listened attentively as he told
the story of his life and challenged them to never give up on themselves
and learn from his life experience. The assembly concluded with a reading
of the Gettysburg address led by Tom and many of the students waited
patiently after the show to meet President Lincoln. Tom was kind enough to
answer some questions and even posed for photos with a number of students
and faculty.
I highly recommend Tom
Katsis if you are looking for a truly inspirational encounter with
President Abraham Lincoln. I was particularly impressed with Tom’s ability
to adapt his presentation to a level that was suitable for elementary
school children. In fact, during two different assemblies set up for
junior and senior students, he adjusted his performance when necessary to
become even more engaging for the respective grade level. I suspect that
his improvisational skill would allow him to adapt his performance for
almost any event or venue. ----Paul Bond, Robert Louis Stevenson
Elementary School, Burbank, California. 2009
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