on October 16, 2014 by in Golden News, Comments Off on Area theater mainstay will be missed

Area theater mainstay will be missed

There are some stories that are too sad to report. This is one of them.

Randy Weeks, age 59, president of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and executive director of its Broadway touring division, died Oct. 9.

Weeks was in London attending the Independent Presenter’s Network conference. Concern was raised when he missed a previously scheduled meeting.

Colleagues requested that the hotel in which he was staying do a wellness check, at which time he was discovered in his bed. The cause of death was not immediately unknown.

Here’s what the retiring head of the DPCA, Daniel Ritchie, had to say: “Randy’s relationship with the DCPA began in 1978 when he started working in the box office while attending the University of Colorado. Despite a foray into his parents’ restaurant business, Randy’s first love was the theater. He was serving as Theatre Operations Manager at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., when local Broadway presenter Bob Garner tapped Randy to take the helm of Denver Center Attractions in 1989.”

During Weeks’ tenure, he also opened the Garner Galleria Theatre in 1992 with the smash hit “Forever Plaid.” The venue has gone on to great success, treating audiences to such long-running shows as “Always … Patsy Cline” and “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.”

Weeks was a co-founder of the Women’s Voices Fund, making gifts to honor his mother and aunt. He also served on the Denver School of the Arts board, the Independent Presenter’s Network, The Broadway League and the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District.

Gotta whole lotta shirts

Rockmount Ranch Wear, the historic snap-front shirt maker at 1626 Wazee, is no stranger to the rich and famous. Its distinctive Western shirts have been immortalized in movies and on the backs of rock stars.

Steve Weil, Rockmount’s third-generation owner, has met more than his share of stars, but he can’t resist getting in touch with his inner groupie when someone special walks in the door.

On Oct. 3, Weil was driving home from work when an employee called to say that rocker Robert Plant, of Led Zeppelin fame, was in the store. Weil spun the car around and headed back.

“He was like a kid in a candy store,” Weil said. “He tried on several shirts and a leather jacket and took each one to the counter. We talked about history and literature. His prose and manner was nothing like other rock stars and celebrities we have met. This man is a gentleman – amusing and without pretense.

“He said he had been coming to Denver for over 40 years, and how it had matured well … He said he played here on Dec. 26, 1968. I asked, ‘How could you remember the date?’ He said, ‘Because it was my opening concert on my first U.S. tour.’ Led Zeppelin started the tour as opening act for Vanilla Fudge and Iron Butterfly.”

Indoor golf facility coming

Jon Rizzi, founding editor of Colorado Avid Golfer magazine, attended the groundbreaking last week of Topgolf, an innovative indoor golf facility with extra strokes such as three floors with 102 practice bays, 200-plus HDTVs, a rooftop terrace and the kind of menu you only wished they served at your favorite golf course.

Rizzi posted on his Facebook page: “Went to the groundbreaking of Topgolf (www.topgolf.com/us/centennial) in Centennial (10601 E. Easter Ave.). And ‘groundbreaking’ describes the concept. The facility – one of 22 in the world – portends to redefine the golf experience with 102 climate-controlled bays, microchipped balls to hit at lighted targets on an outdoor range, top-shelf food and drink and all kinds of flat-screens and event space to keep non-golfers entertained. It’s gonna be great when it opens next (spring).”

Even non-golfers will be entertained with all the TVs and an extensive menu of food and fancy cocktails – even brunch and a kids’ menu. You can sign up for mobile updates on the facility at the website mentioned above.

Photos of musicians displayed

The PACE Center Art Gallery in Parker is hosting an exhibition that features photographs of celebrity musicians taken by Colorado photographer Jensen Sutta Friday through Nov. 14.

The exhibit’s opening reception takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 16. It is open to the public and includes live music, hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar and an artist talk.

Sutta’s exhibition at the PACE Center (20000 Pikes Peak Ave.) will feature photographs of  Jack Johnson, Jaime Foxx, Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic), Sheryl Crow, Pat Monahan (Train), Flo Rida, G-Love, Todd Park Mohr (Big Head Todd), Burt Bacharach, Kenny Rogers, Peter Cetera (Chicago), Don Felder (Eagles), B.B. King, Morris Day (the Time), Luke Bryan, Leann Rimes, Merle Haggard, Brad Paisley, Randy Owen (Alabama) and Strait.

For more information about Parker Arts, visit www.ParkerArts.org.

Glenn Miller Band to play

The big-band sounds of the world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, with musical director Nick Hilscher, will fill the Paramount Theatre (16th Street and Glenarm Place) at 7 p.m. Oct. 25 (doors open at 6).

The Glenn Miller Orchestra plays an average of 300 live dates a year around the globe to millions of fans. 

The concert benefits Colorado Public Television 12. Tickets are $ 35 plus service charges, and available at www.altitudetickets.com or by calling 303-893-8497.

Overheard

Eavesdropping on a man talking about the Chicago Bears’ loss to the Carolina Panthers: “I took my mom a turnover for breakfast this morning. She ended up with two fewer than (former Broncos quarterback) Jay Cutler had.”

Penny Parker’s “Mile High Life” column gives insights into the best events, restaurants, businesses, parties and people throughout the metro area. Parker also writes for Blacktie-Colorado.com. You can subscribe and read her columns (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) at www.blacktie-colorado.com/pennyparker. She can be reached at [email protected] or at 303-619-5209.


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