Gertrude Lawrence but when he proved to be unenthused by the suggestion, Lawrence sent the book to Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Rodgers initially demurred because he felt Lawrence's vocal range was limited and she had a tendency to sing flat. But he realised the story had strong potential, and the two men agreed to write what ultimately became "The King and I". It opened on Broadway in March 1951, and ultimately, Lawrence won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance. Her triumph was short-lived; her health deteriorated rapidly, forcing her to miss numerous performances until
Martha Wright (actress) to Rodgers and Hart" at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan and "A Tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein" that same year. In 1980, she performed "The Sounds of Rodgers and Hammerstein" at The King Cole Room in The St. Regis-Sheraton Hotel in New York City, followed, in 1983, by "A Salute to Burton Lane and E. Y. Harburg" at the 92nd Street Y. Wright and her husband later retired to Massachusetts; he died in 2013. Wright died at the age of 92 in Newburyport, Massachusetts in 2016. Martha Wright (actress) Martha Wright, born Martha Lucile Wiederrecht (March 23, 1923 –