In 1996, Phillips made his Broadway debut as the King in Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II's The King and I. Phillips won a Theatre World Award, and was nominated for both a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for his performance.
I 1996 fik Phillips sin Broadway-debut som kongen i Richard Rodgers og Oscar Hammersteins II i The King and I. Phillips vandt en Theatre World Award og blev nomineret til både en Tony Award og en Drama Desk Award for sin præstation.