Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom

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Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom is a rock-style stage musical from Australia, first performed in 1989. It satirizes religion and rock and roll.

History
- Written in 1986 by Daniel Abineri. It premiered in Melbourne in 1989, featuring Russell Crowe as Johnny.
- The show had a six-month run in Melbourne and Sydney, won two International Pater Awards for best libretto and score, and released a cast album and a single, Enemy The Sun.
- A later UK showcase in 1993 (directed by Abineri) starred Mark Shaw as Johnny, with Elizabeth Carling and others.
- A 1994 London production, also directed by Abineri and starring Mark Shaw (and Craig Ferguson as Father MacLean in the later cast), drew national news for offending the Roman Catholic Church and closed after nine performances.
- A 2010 UK touring version, directed by Abineri, was staged with a new cast.

Synopsis
Johnny, born to a single mother who dies young, deserts a rough start and forms the Prophets Of Doom. He is discovered and controlled by an evil parish priest named Father MacLean. After entering an X Factor–style show called Have Your Say, Johnny is hailed as the people’s Pontiff. The incumbent Pope Liberty III dies after a plan involving Desire, Johnny’s fan disguised as a nun, goes wrong. Johnny becomes pope, but learns shocking secrets: MacLean raped Johnny’s mother and is Johnny’s father, and MacLean also killed Mary to get Johnny. Johnny vows revenge as MacLean plots to assassinate him live on TV.

Original songs
- Let Us Pray
- Another Day
- Bad Boy Johnny
- What U Want
- Have Your Say
- Maybe He’s The One
- Enemy The Sun
- Kissing God
- Make Me Divine
- Bye Bye Johnny
- I Believe

Productions and cast
- 1989 Australian cast: Russell Crowe as Johnny; Troy Newman as Johnny after; Daniel Abineri as Father MacLean; Wendy Stapleton as Mary; others in supporting roles.
- 1993 London showcase cast: Mark Shaw as Johnny; Daniel Abineri as Father MacLean; Elizabeth Carling as Mary; Matt Selby as Charlie Fortune; Sebastian Abineri as Pope Liberty.
- 1994 London cast: Mark Shaw as Johnny; Craig Ferguson as Father MacLean; Stephen Marcus as Pope Liberty; others.
- 2010 UK touring cast: Steve Steinman as Father MacLean; Dawn Spence as Mary; Henry Bird as Johnny; with a band and backing vocalists.

Cast recordings and releases
- 1989 LP cast recording (WEA)
- 1990 CD cast recording (WEA)
- The release notes mention the show’s title is sometimes listed as Bad Boy Johnny and the Profits of Doom, not Prophets; some extra songs, Sweet Virgin Mary and Nobody Told Me, weren’t on the LP or CD.

Single
- Enemy the Sun reached number 78 in Australia.

Notes
- The 1994 London production drew significant controversy from the Catholic Church and closed early.
- The show has had several revivals and tours, with different casts over the years.