Randy Weeks could handle the truth. In all the years that I have written column items about Denver Center Attractions productions, he never admonished me when I didn’t like or walked out on a particular play or musical at The Buell Theatre.

But we weren’t done. The professional relationship I so valued was cut short when the DCPA president and Broadway Executive Director died Oct. 9 during a trip to London to attend the Independent Producers Network conference. He was 59.

The public is invited to honor Weeks, along with his family, during a Celebration of Life at 4 p.m. Nov. 3 on the stage of The Buell Theatre.

His obituary read: “If there were a Tony Award for Best Broadway Presenter, DCPA President and Broadway Executive Director D. Randall ‘Randy’ Weeks would have received it. But perhaps it was a bigger honor to receive that very award from his national peers at The Broadway League, a group of 700-plus theater owners and operators, producers, presenters and general managers who bring Broadway to more than 30 million people in New York and more than 200 cities across North America. He was a giant among giants.”

Memorial gifts can be made to The Randy Weeks Memorial Fund for the Bobby G Awards, which supports the advancement of musical theater for Colorado high school students. Please make checks payable to Denver Center for the Performing Arts and mail to: DCPA Development Office, 1101 13^th St, Denver, 80204.

A tribute on Oct. 10 throughout the Denver Performing Arts Complex included dimmed lights, pre-show announcements, a moment of silence and visual displays. A compilation of this tribute can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLexX4WflzoclPIf3dSl5aR0Y5H2yvFc7g&v=8Jxy-6b7WKA.

For updated news, comments, condolences, a photo gallery and more, visit http://www.denvercenter.org/news-center.

Though the lead of a new TV pilot ordered for truTV is Denver marijuana dispensary owner Andy Williams, don’t expect him to be singing “Moon River.”

Williams would more likely sing Abba’s “Money, Money, Money” in the reality series that centers on the family dynasty behind the Medicine Man Marijuana Dispensary at 4750 Nome St.

truTV has ordered a pilot for “Medicine Man” (working title) with executive producer Tony Krantz (“24″, “Felicity”)  with Wilshire Studios producing and Flame Ventures’ Drew Comins as co-executive producer.

According to the press release, “On the outskirts of Denver in a nondescript industrial park is Medicine Man, a seemingly ordinary family business that just happens to be one of the leaders in the state’s gigantic new legal marijuana industry. No one really knows much about this marijuana dispensary and manufacturing plant … until now.

“‘Medicine Man’ will focus on the Williams family dynasty and its unusual brand of business savvy, demonstrating that the people at the center of the legal marijuana industry are a far cry from the stoner stereotypes. Medicine Man has a 40,000-square-foot industrial cultivation facility used for growing their award-winning product, employs 75 people across its various divisions, and is in construction on its first satellite outpost in nearby Aurora.

“Ten members of the Williams family, spanning three generations, work in the business, which has a strict code of conduct for its employees. truTV’s ‘Medicine Man’ will chronicle not only the struggle to build a marijuana dynasty but also the unexpected and surprising trials of their very unique family life, as the Williams clan rides the wave of a modern-day green Gold Rush.

“‘Medicine Man’ demonstrates truTV’s commitment to create shows that provide a fun take on the unique subcultures and characters that will resonate with our target audience of young adults,” said Chris Linn, president, head of programming for truTV. “We’re very excited to be the first network to put the new legal marijuana business front and center in a brand new television series.”

(Medicine Man Marijuana Dispensary photos)

The Colorado High School Activities Association Hall of Fame has announced its 26th Hall of Fame class, featuring a four-time state wrestling champion, a star-studded boys’ basketball team, a girls’ athletics pioneer coach, a long-time officials’ assignor, a veteran media broadcaster and a medical professional who has assisted high school athletes for nearly 50 years.

The CHSAA Hall of Fame’s Class of 2014 includes four-time champion Jonathan Archuleta (Alamosa) and the undefeated Manual High School boys’ team from 1966, along with Bernie Goss, a wrestling official and all-sports officials assignor from Grand Junction. Joining those three entries into the hall are girls’ athletics pioneer and Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports founder Helen McCall, former media maven Marcia Neville and Dr. Darwin Strickland, who for 50 years has been the physician for high school athletes in Adams County District 12.

“The latest class of the CHSAA Hall of Fame is one that reaches all aspects of high school sports, from the medical side to the media side to a founding figure in girls’ athletics, to the officials who maintain fair and equitable competition,” said CHSAA Commissioner Paul Angelico.

The Class of 2014 will be inducted during a ceremony on Jan. 28 at the Red Lion Hotel Denver Southeast (I-225 and Parker Road). Individual tickets may be purchased for $50 each by contacting the CHSAA at www.chsaanow.com. The festivities get underway at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited.

Marcia Neville

The National Sports Center for the Disabled is holding a robust raffle where one entrant can win the chance to ski, snowboard or ski-bike free at Winter Park Resort for the rest of his or her life.

Tickets are $50 for one ticket or $125 for three tickets. There are only 2,000 raffle tickets being sold. The NSCD will also be giving away weekly prizes to those who have purchased a raffle ticket including two tickets to Odysseo, gift cards to yummy restaurants including Zengo, Charcoal and Tag, two lift tickets to Winter Park, demo ski rental and two nights at The Vintage and a Paralympic package.

The raffle begins on Monday and ends Dec. 4. To purchase click here: https://nscd.thankyou4caring.org/pages/lifetimepass14/15. All proceeds raised will benefit NSCD’s summer and winter therapeutic programs.

Love chocolate? Get your fix during ChoctoberFest Friday and Saturday at the Denver Marriott Tech Center, I-25 and Belleview.

ChoctoberFest, which turns a fall weekend into one long, miasmic cacao high, as hopped-up chocoholics snake from booth to booth tasting chocolate of every ilk, from dark and pure to sweet and milky, gooey to waxy smooth, with nuts, infused with tea, slathered on cakes, infused into wine/beer/liquor, baked into brownies and artfully rolled into rich melty truffles.

The Friday Chocolate Happy Hour, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the hotel’s atrium, kicks off an all-chocolate evening till 10 p.m. Saturday’s hours are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Halloween activities both days include Andrew Novick’s Extreme Chocolate Zombie Delectables and costume contests, a live chocolate-themed wedding, chocolates paired with wine and beer and cooking demos.

Tickets are $5 for admission only; $10 for 12 chocolate samples and $20 for 25 samples. A precent of the profits will benefit The Action Center Food Pantry to benefit needy families.

For tickets, go to www.chocolatefests.org.

Trillium restaurant owner Ryan Leinonen is hosting a practice dinner at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in anticipation of his guest chef appearance at the iconic James Beard House in New York City where he and his staff will treat the culinary cognoscenti to a six-course wine dinner, plus appetizers, at the revered landmark on Nov. 11.

The Trillium dinner, at 2134 Larimer St., featuring the same six courses and wines, along with a three-course hors d’oeuvre reception, also matched with wines, will mirror the Beard House feast.

“It’s going to be a very special evening at Trillium as we practice and prepare to cook at the James Beard House,” Leinonen said. “The dinner is intended to give our amazing guests, friends, colleagues and family in the Mile High City an authentic taste of what we’ll be doing at the James Beard House.”

It’s not Leinonen’s first journey to the James Beard House. Ten years ago, while he was sous-chef at The Kitchen in Boulder, he accompanied executive chef Hugo Matheson to the temple of gastronomy.

“Cooking at the Beard House is a rare honor, and while I’ve been there before, it’s different this time, because I get to defend the art of cooking by preparing my own rendition of Nordic cuisine – a cuisine that’s been shaped and molded through my life experiences and Midwestern upbringing,” Leinonen said. “My staff is proud of working at Trillium. They bust their butts day in and day out, and some of them have never even been to New York City, so I’m super-stoked for them to help me plan and execute the dinner, cook and eat lots of killer food and come back home rejuvenated and inspired.”

Reservations to the Trillium James Beard dinner are required, and tickets are $100 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. For reservations, call 303-379-9759. Please note that there’s just one single seating at 6:30 p.m. and that a credit card deposit is required for all reservations.

To see the James Beard dinner menu and for more information about Trillium, go to www.trilliumdenver.com/events.

Eavesdropping on a man watching Bravo TV’s reality show “Manzo’d With Children” and commenting on oldest son Albie’s new girlfriend: “It’s obvious what Albie sees in that girl. And it’s not her brains.”

Despite the television cameras, the mob of friendly fans and the steady stream of selfies, Gloria Miller, mom to Broncos linebacker Von Miller, perched on a couch in Ocean Prime’s bar and took the controlled chaos in stride.

After all, this was her son’s “Celebrity Steak Out” charity dinner to benefit Von’s Vision, a foundation with a mission to provide low-income Denver children with the eye care and corrective eye wear needed to be their best in the classroom and in life.

Since Von was drafted by the Broncos, Gloria has become accustomed to the hubbub that follows her now-famous son. And Monday’s crowd at Ocean Prime was particularly festive following the handy 31-17 win against the New York Jets.

Miller, casually clad in a Mike Tyson T-shirt and one of his signature 70 pair of glasses, worked the room like a running back stutter stepping his way to the goal line: raising money to purchase 5,000 pairs of glasses for needy kids.

“I appreciate my teammates for taking off their Monday to support this event,” said Von, who added that he has personally committed to putting 2,500 kids in glasses.

The sold-out crowd was served a three-course dinner (heavily assisted by the Ocean Prime pros) by players including Jacob Tamme, Wes Welker, both Thomases (Demariyus and Julius), Chris Harris, DeMarcus Ware, Brock Osweiler, Ben Garland, Brandon McManus and (wait for it…) Peyton Manning.

Top players had their signed jerseys auctioned off for beau coup bucks.

My guest, rabid fan Angela Cheeseboro, and I ran into Manning (who ducked into the restaurant nearly unnoticed), quite by accident waiting for the elevator to the dining room. Cheeseboro was recovering from knee surgery and couldn’t bear the stairs.

I stepped up to the living legend and introduced myself and shook his hand, while Angela was stifling screams behind me. We stepped into the elevator and I asked if she wanted an introduction. All she could do was shake her head. The quarterback had her tongue.

The evening was star-studded and delightful while raising money to put glasses on kids. Bravo, Von!

Angela Cheeseboro with Bronco0s linebacker Von Miller, below, and Von’s mother, Gloria (above). (Penny Parker photos)

The Denver Broncos have taken over the Dallas Cowboys’ spot as America’s team, according to a recent Harris Poll, which rated the top 10 NFL teams. The Harris folks conducted an online survey of 2,543 adults (1,275 of whom follow professional football) between Sept. 10 and 17.

Here’s what the poll found: “Viewership has been up for the season so far, and the majority of U.S. adults (55 percent, up slightly from 54 percent last year) continue to say that they follow professional football. A few of them may have changed which team they’re following most closely though, as the Dallas Cowboys have dropped to the No. 4 spot this year, after spending six years as the favorite team of adults who follow professional football.

“Replacing them at the top of the list are the Denver Broncos, moving up two spots. They’re followed by the New York Giants (who have moved up two spots to second) and the Green Bay Packers (who dropped one spot to third). Rounding out the top five favorite football teams are the Pittsburgh Steelers, up two spots from seventh to fifth.

“The Seattle Seahawks have really taken off this year, soaring up six spots to the sixth position on the list. The San Francisco 49ers have risen one spot to seventh, while the New England Patriots have dropped three spots to eighth. Completing the top 10 are the Chicago Bears, falling three spots to ninth, and the New Orleans Saints, rising one spot to 10th.

“The Jacksonville Jaguars are at the bottom of the list for the fifth year running, though at least this time around they’re not alone – they share the spot with the Tennessee Titans this year.”

For more Harris Poll results, go to www.harrisinteractive.com/NewsRoom/HarrisPolls/tabid/447/mid/1508/articleId/1506/ctl/ReadCustom%20Default/Default.aspx.