An approach to the semiclassical limit of the initial-value problem with real, ”single-lobe” initial data for the integrable focusing nonlinear Schroedinger equation will be described. Although based on integrability rather than WKB asymptotics, analyticity of the data plays an important role. The technique to be described allows for the identification of phase transition curves (nonlinear caustics) in the (x,t) plane, and for the calculation of strong asymptotics as well as weak limits.