A theater of one’s own

Usually a theater critic has to die to get a theater named after him.Not me.Recently I was visiting friends up at their property in Mendocino -- seven acres full of redwoods, oaks and pines -- and while clearing some brush, Kirk discovered a perfect little redwood circle amphitheater. So he cleaned it all up, rolled in some barrels as seats, painted a sign and christened it the Chad Jones Theater. You can click on the photo to enlarge it so you can see the "marquis." Is this the height of vanity? I hope so.I'm hoping to inaugurate the space next summer with my dream roster of performers from both the musical and theatrical worlds: Lily Tomlin, Patty Griffin, Cherry Jones, Sarah Jones, Ben Folds, Rufus Wainwright, Wesla Whitfield, Paula West, Adam Guettel, Carol Burnett, Jason Robert Brown, Audra McDonald, Meryl Streep, Kristen Chenoweth, Jason Mraz, Tony Kushner and Julie Andrews.Wonder how many of them will come?