A quick rehearsal for “Do Re Mi” on the Fox lot in Hollywood.

First, I would like to extend my profound thanks to Ted Chapin and Bert Fink of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization. Their faith in me and their commitment to this project has been exemplary, especially considering the death-defying deadlines under which we all worked. Carol Cornicelli, Kara Darling and Cindy Boyle, also of R&H, gave me their time, diligence and consideration.

Michael Kantor of Ghost Light Films has been a great collaborator on several past projects; I thank him for bringing me into the circle of the 40th Anniversary DVD extras he created so skillfully and for assisting with the illustrations to this book. Thanks to Sally Rosenthal as well. And Cornelia Calder dived in headfirst with class and aplomb to coordinate pictures across two continents.

Kate Oldfield and Kate Burkhalter from Pavilion Books were always responsive and supportive to the thousand-and-one details on this book. Kate O, I have met; someday, I hope to meet the other Kate—although her phone manner is impeccable.

My great friend at the Library of Congress, Mark Eden Horowitz, guided me effortlessly through the Oscar Hammerstein holdings there. At the New York Public Library Theatre Collection, Barbara Knowles, Jeremy Megraw, Louise Martzinek, and Tom Lisanti in Reproductions were graceful and resourceful in solving many frantic requests.

Also, Ron Mandelbaum at Photofest went beyond the call of duty and his interest in the project was a great inspiration to me.

Johannes von Trapp, Stefan Herzl, and Rudolf Berger were instrumental in pulling together many of the elements required from the Austrian part of the equation.

Anna Crouse and Fritz Brun gave me many helpful insights on the manuscript, and my eagle-eyed friend and colleague Karyn Gerhard gave the manuscript the most insightful read of all.

In The Sound of Music, Captain von Trapp returns from his honeymoon to discover that the Third Reich has offered him a submarine command. When I came home from my honeymoon, I only had to face a volume of page proofs for this book. However, all husbands—whatever the task at hand—need the support and inspiration of great wives to guide them through difficult waters. Georg von Trapp had Maria; I have Genevieve Elam. It seems a very good place to start.

Special thanks for the 2015 edition: I want to thank Ann Edelblute for suggesting a revision and supporting the project; and Ted Chapin for engineering such a speedy and successful resolution. Also Fiona Holman of Pavilion Books, Jen Veall, Ron Mandelbaum of Photofest (once more), Steve Ross, and Bert Fink. Grateful appreciation to Dame Julie Andrews and Steve Sauer and a shout-out to a new favorite thing since 2007: my son, Miles, who is six going on seven.

LM