"Waltzing in Heaven" is a story of faith, hope and love triumphing over heartbreak
and loss in a father’s musical gift to his son. When the plane carrying Ronald G.
"Ronnie" Johnson and other members of the WSU football team crashed, Howard Johnson,
Ronnie's father, hoped to at least have the ring Ronnie always wore to remember him
by. Thirteen years after the tragedy, the ring was miraculously found and returned
to Ronnie’s parents, Virginia and Howard Johnson.
"Waltzing in Heaven" is based on Howard’s poetry, which helped to console him in his
grief. Howard is credited with the concept of the show and Janie Peak with the story
and script. Rick Lopez, Vickie and Scott Beck (Ronnie's sister and brother-in-law)
are credited with the music and lyrics. The original musical production debuted at
WSU on Oct. 2, 2008 and was directed by Marie King, associate professor and director
for musical theatre in the School of Performing Arts.
