The musical was an immediate hit, winning Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Actress (for Lawrence)

and Best Featured Actor (for Brynner). Lawrence died unexpectedly of cancer a year and a half after the
opening, and the role of Anna was played by several actresses during the remainder of the Broadway run
of 1,246 performances. A hit London run and U.S. national tour followed, together with a 1956 film for
which Brynner won an Academy Award, and the musical was recorded several times. In later revivals,
Brynner came to dominate his role and the musical, starring in a four-year national tour culminating in a
1985 Broadway run shortly before his death.

Christopher Renshaw directed major revivals on Broadway (1996), winning the Tony Award for Best
Revival, and in the West End (2000). A 2015 Broadway revival won another Tony for Best Revival. Both
professional and amateur revivals of The King and I continue to be staged regularly throughout the
English-speaking world.