A.R.T. wins $25,000 grant to help stage Tennessee Williams’ “Glass Menagerie”

By June Wulff, Globe Staff

“You are the only young man that I know of who ignores the fact that the future becomes the present, the present the past, and the past turns into everlasting regret if you don’t plan for it.” So says Amanda Wingfield to her son, Tom, in “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams.

The classic will be mounted by American Repertory Theater, which just got help to the tune of $25,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts. The A.R.T. is one of 832 non profits to receive a grant from the nationwide pool of 1,509 eligible applications. The announcement was made by soon-to-be former NEA chairman Rocco Landesman: “I’m proud to announce these 832 grants to the American public including “The Glass Menagerie” at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. These projects offer extraordinary examples of creativity in our country, including the creation of new work, innovative ways of engaging audiences, and exemplary education programs.”

Tony Award-winning director John Tiffany will be at the helm for the A.R.T.’s first journey into Williams land. And hold on to your fruit bowl because Tony and Emmy winner, Cherry Jones, will play Amanda Wingfield, the desperate mother who wants Tom to find a “gentleman caller” for his sickly sister.

So, heed Amanda’s warning and plan your visit to Cambridge between Feb. 2 and March 17.