Barbara fell hard for the charismatic Barre Dennen, who shaped her early performances and style, and started her off on the road to fame. He also broke her heart. Courtesy of Bob Stone

Artist Bob Schulenberg helped design Barbra's look-clothes, makeup, hair-and his sketchbook was perennially in hand as he sat in the audience during her performances. He also sketched a self-portrait of himself around the time of Another Evening with Harry Stoones. Courtesy of Bob Schulenberg

In 1962, on an interview with a journalist set up by her enterprising publicist, Don Softness, Barbra is in full kook mode. New York Daily News Archive / Getty Images

Barbra was a smash hit as Miss Marmelstein in I Can Get It for You Wholesale, which opened on March 22, 1962. The critics didn't like the show as much as they liked her, however. George Silk / Getty Images

Barbra and her Wholesale costar Elliott Gould on the way to the Tonys, April 29, 1962. She didn't get the award, but she did get Gould. Collection of Stuart Lippner

Herbert Jacoby and Max Gordon audition a hopeful at the Blue Angel on the same stage where Barbra would perform. Note the quilted walls. New York Daily News Archive / Getty Images

At first, radio and television microphones unnerved her, but eventually Barbra faced them with confidence. Collection of Stuart Lippner

Columbia chief G.o.ddard Lieberson at first thought Barbra "too special for records." But he was surprised and pleased to see how, after a slow start, The Barbra Streisand Alb.u.m shot up the charts. Barbra chose the name herself, after rejecting the company's suggestion: Sweet and Saucy Streisand. Getty Images

Three of the men responsible for launching Barbra Streisand into superstardom. David Merrick (left) did so reluctantly, but even he admitted that her talent was remarkable. Jerome Robbins (below) initially wanted to hold out for Anne Bancroft for the part of f.a.n.n.y Brice in Funny Girl, but he eventually became one of Barbra's biggest boosters. But more important to Barbra's success was Ray Stark (right, with John Huston), who believed from the beginning that n.o.body but Barbra should play f.a.n.n.y Brice. Even as he conferred with Huston in Mexico over The Night of the Iguana, his mind was on Funny Girl back in New York.

Merrick: Arnold Newman / Getty Images; Robbins:

Bettmann / CORBIS; Stark and Huston: Gjon Mill / Getty Images

Barbra famously broke protocol to ask for President Kennedy's signature after singing for him at the White House Correspondents' dinner on May 24, 1963. She's flanked here by two of the most influential men to guide her career: her indefatigable manager Marty Erlichman and arranger-accompanist Peter Daniels. National Archives / Newsmakers / Getty Images

"If I'd known the place was going to be so crowded, I'd have had my nose fixed," Barbra said on opening night at Hollywood's Cocoanut Grove, August 21, 1963, instantly winning over the jaded movie-star crowd. Afterward, Natalie Wood, barely glimpsed here, told Barbra she was gorgeous. Barbra designed both of the outfits she wore at the Cocoanut Grove.

Barbra on stage: 1978 Chester Maydole / mptvimages.com; close-up of Barbra: Nat Dallinger / Globe Photos / ZUMA

After pretending to be married for six months, Barbra and Elliott finally tied the knot in Carson City, Nevada, on September 13, 1963. Their honeymoon was spent at the Beverly Hills Hotel, though Barbra was also working on various television shows. Photographer Bob Willoughby told the newlyweds to get in the pool and have fun.

Both images: 1978 Bob Willoughby / mptvimages.com

An iconic collaboration: Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, and "surprise" guest Ethel Merman. Barbra and Judy: Nat Dallinger / Globe Photos / ZUMA; Barbra, Ethel, and Judy: Estate of Roddy McDowall

By the time Funny Girl opened on Broadway on March 26, 1964, it was less about f.a.n.n.y Brice than it was about Barbra Streisand. Sydney Chaplin and Kay Medford watch as Barbra is lift ed to superstardom. Photofest

CHAPTER SIX

Summer 1961

1.