Betty Buckley, Hallie Foote & Lois Smith to Star in Horton Foote's The Old Friends at Signature Theatre

The cast has been announced for Signature Theatre's upcoming production of The Old Friends. The world premiere play, directed by Michael Wilson, will begin performances on August 20 at The Irene Diamond Stage, with an official opening night set for September 12.

The Old Friends will feature Tony winner Betty Buckley and Tony nominees Hallie Foote and Lois Smith. Further casting will be announced at a later date.

Written by Horton Foote, whose The Trip to Bountiful was recently nominated for a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, The Old Friends follows matriarch Mamie Borden and the remaining members of two longtime Texas farming families awaiting 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.

Buckley is best known for originating the role of Grizabella in the Original Broadway cast of Cats, for which she won a Tony Award. Her additional Broadway credits include The Mystery of Edwin Drood, 1776, Pippin, Carrie, Sunset Boulevard and Song and Dance.

Foote collaborated on her father's films Valentine's Day and 1918 before starring in the title role of his play The Widow Claire. Her Broadway credits include A Little Family Business and Dividing the Estate, for which she earned a Tony Award nomination.

A veteran of the stage and screen, Smith last appeared at the Signature Theatre in The Trip to Bountiful. She was Tony-nominated for her performances in The Grapes of Wrath and Buried Child.

The Old Friends will replace the previously-announced production of Edward Albee's Laying an Egg, which will be produced by Signature Theatre in a future season.