Photo Flash: First Look at Betty Buckley, Hallie Foote, Annalee Jefferies, Veanne Cox and More in THE OLD FRIENDS at Houston's Alley Theatre

The "Alley Theatre @ UH" season begins with Betty Buckley,Hallie Foote, Annalee Jefferies and Veanne Cox in award-winning Texas playwright Horton Foote's The Old Friends, a Southwestern premiere. Check out a first look below!

Tony Award winner Betty Buckley will reprise her role as Gertrude Hayhurst Sylvester Ratliff from the world premiere off-Broadway production, directed by Michael Wilson, who also directs the Alley Theatre production. Hallie Foote (Alley's Dividing the Estate) returns as Sibyl Borden, Annalee Jefferies (Alley's The Clean House) returns to the Alley as Mamie Borden and Veanne Cox makes her Alley debut as Julia Price. The cast of The Old Friends also includes Alley Theatre Resident Actors Jeffrey Bean as Albert Price and Jay Sullivan as Tom Underwood.

Also featured in the cast are Michelle Elaine as Catherine ,Novella Nelson as Hattie and Cotter Smith as Howard Ratliff.Michael Wilson directed the Alley's acclaimed productions ofHorton Foote's Dividing the Estate, The Trip to Bountiful, and The Carpetbagger's Children. On Broadway, Wilson directed the 2013 Tony Award winning revival of The Trip to Bountiful and also directed the 2014 Emmy-nominated Lifetime movie version.

The Old Friends tells the story of Matriarch Mamie Borden and the remaining members of two longtime Texas families who await a visit from Mamie's son Hugo and his wife Sybil. When Sybil arrives with alarming news, old friends on opposing sides must confront the issues surrounding legacy, loyalty, and the meaning of happiness that have hounded them for generations. Called "transcendent" by the New York Post, named the "critic's pick" by The New York Times and given "five stars" by Bloomberg, The Old Friends is an absorbing and vital chapter in Foote's beloved, distinctly American body of work. Contains mature themes.

The design team includes scenic design by Jeff Cowie and costume designer David C. Woolard. Lighting Design is by Rui Rita with Original Music and Sound design by John Gromada. Wig and Hair Design is by Paul Huntley with Choreography by Peter Pucci.

As the Alley Theatre undergoes the first major renovation in its history, all 2014-2015 season performances are at the University of Houston's (UH) main campus. Details about the previously announced renovation can be found atwww.alleytheatre.org/renovation. Construction on the Alley Theatre building began in July, 2014 and will continue through the summer of 2015, with the grand opening of the renovated Alley Theatre scheduled for October 2015. For more information about the venue at UH visit www.alleytheatre.org/gettouh.

The Old Friends, by Horton Foote, directed by Michael Wilson, begins performances, August 15 opens officially Wednesday, August 20, and runs through September 7, 2014 at the University of Houston's Wortham Theatre.

Photo Credit: John Everett