The ship itself was obscure and small, valued at a mere 128 pounds, eight shillings, and fourpence. Each passenger had a total area the size of a single mattress under a five-foot ceiling in which to cook, eat, sleep, dress and all the rest of living. During the months-long journey, one Pilgrim died. Another, washed overboard, was miraculously washed back on deck. A crew member, not so fortunate, perished. The landing at Plymouth was on the morning of Monday, December 11, 1620. Ahead of this brave band lay a harsh winter, which robbed more than half the settlers of their lives. When spring came at last, 54 people were left, 21 of them under sixteen. But when the Mayflower sailed back to England, not one survivor asked to return. The men and women of the Mayflower did not come seeking fame or profit. They sought-and found-peace. The agreement they drew up before landing was described by John Quincy Adams as "the first example in modern times of a social compact or system of government instituted by voluntary agreement conformable to the laws of nature, by men of equal rights and about to establish their community in a new country." This book reconstructs the voyage that linked European civilization and America, the facts behind what was to become the first legend of the American people, a pioneering journey that took nearly four centuries to come to life as it does in these pages.

"Any student of acting must begin by reawakening his or her ability to play like a child. The Natural Actor focuses on stimulating this ability using simple, natural, easily understood techniques. First, students train their instruments: body, voice, mind, and spirit. The trained instrument is then used to practice the craft of acting through games, improvisation, and open scenes. Journal prompts encourage critical thinking about the learning process. Physical training is integrated into activities that develop the imagination and strengthen the ability to work with others. Aristotle observed that acting is an innate part of human nature. The Natural Actor gives students the emotional guidance and practical tools needed to rediscover that innate ability. The book is ideal for college-level performing arts classes. Written from a position of emotional sensitivity and abundance, The Natural Actor will help any student who wishes to release the actor within and explore the creative self."

Mary Kate Caffrey received her MA in theatre from Northwestern University. She has taught undergraduate acting at a number of universities, community colleges, and conservatories on the East Coast. She is currently Professor of Communicative Arts at Massasoit Community College and Lecturer in Performing Arts at The University of Massachusetts, Boston. She has directed productions at numerous theatres in the New England area. Before becoming a founding member and Co-Artistic Director of Threshold Theatre, she was Artistic Director at the Triangle Theater and Education Director at the New Theater, both in Boston, MA.