First and foremost, I would like to thank Rebecca Sherman for being the most patient and encouraging agent I ever could have hoped for, and Alisha Niehaus for being the best editor on the entire planet (and that’s an understatement). Rebecca and Alisha, thank you both from the bottom of my heart! Thanks to my son and daughter, Zachary and Zia, who always keep my priorities in perspective. I cherish the support of my mom, Betty, and my sisters, Deb and Julie, who have been with me every step of the way. I can’t possibly include all the friends who helped me, but I would especially like to thank Maaike Schotborgh, Susan Leader, and Ed Hoornaert, for your endless reading and critiquing and re-reading. Thanks to Dawn, Rose, Sandi, Frances, Kerri, Tiina, Gretchen, Sammy, and Doug for always believing in me. Thanks to Tracy and Carolyn for introducing me to The Phantom, and to Cassie and her parents Sally and Bob, for giving me personal insight into a Caribbean high school theater department. And finally . . . Walt, thank you for everything.