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 16^th 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