"Last year, there were a lot of plays that were a little heavier," producer Bob Boyett told Variety. "The difference in this coming season is that we have a much broader and, in my opinion, a much brighter spectrum."

Scheduled to make their Broadway debuts are Aaron Sorkin's "The Farnsworth Invention," Tom Stoppard's "Rock n' Roll," the London hit "The Seafarer," Tracy Letts' "August: Osage County" and Mark Twain's farce "Is He Dead?"

Theresa Rebeck makes her Broadway debut with "Mauritius." Also on tap are six revivals.

At the same time, three musicals are slated to debut before the holidays: an adaptation of Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein," Disney's "The Little Mermaid" and the Shakespeare-in-Texas work "Lone Star Love."