The Challenge was pivotal in the founding of the Mercury Workshop.

To launch the Mercury Workshop twenty-eight writers came together to write The Challenge, a multi-collaborative musical about King Minos of Crete and the Minotaur, Daedalus and his son Icarus. Each writing team was assigned a section of the story which suited their strengths as writers. Stephen and Shaun McKenna wrote the final two numbers, 'Minos Is Here' and the finale of the show 'If I Tell You'. Stephen also wrote the music for 'Love Must Change' in Act 1. Stephen Sondheim provided several leitmotifs for the writers to use to unite the score musically. The show had a triumphant premiere at the Shaw Theatre in London on July 19th, 1992 with a terrific cast. The Challenge was directed by Steven Dexter and produced by Kenny Wax and Sacha Brooks(for the Mercury Workshop). Stephen Clark wrote the book. The Financial Times wrote '....in every way it already surpasses dozens of musicals professionally presented in recent years on either side of the Atlantic'.The Original Cast Recording is available on iTunes. Click the link below to watch the Finale of The Challenge on YouTube. (Today, the Mecury Workshop is called Mercury Musical Developments).

Track Listing

Disc 1:

• The Mediterranean Sea
• The Workshop
• from Nothing to Something
• Aphrodite Hears
• The Workshop II
• Lovable
• Love Must Change
• Working With Wood
• Summon Up a Storm
• Bull Inside My China Shop
• Love Has Got a Sting In It's Tail
• Bull By the Horns
• The Garden of Dead Ends
• Home / Food / Blood

Disc 2:

• Every Year
• Am I Alone?
• If I Ever See That Face Again
• The Moment Is Here
• Stay Calm
• Hide Your Eyes
• Revenge
• Closer and Closer
• I've Had Enough
• Epitaph
• Four Sicilian Princesses
• Escaped?
• Positive Thought
• Minos Is Here
• If I Tell You

Additional Details

Label: TER

Genre: Musical/Broadway

Run Time: 139 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 01/01/93

UPC: 5015062120103