Jonathan Mann is best known as the “song-a-day guy”. He’s been writing, recording, producing and posting a song and video a day since January 1st, 2009. His videos have appeared all over the web from Boing Boing to the front page of the Huffington Post to Tech Crunch, and on national television, such as live performances on The Rachel Maddow show and Anderson Cooper Live. In addition, Steve Jobs opened his “Antennagate” press conference with a video and song created by Mann. He also wrote the Mario Opera, the world’s first rock opera based on the Super Mario Bros.

Diane Paulus serves as the Artistic Director of the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University and is the 2013 recipient of the Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical. Paulus’ work includes Broadway: A.R.T.’s 2013 Tony Award-winning revival of Pippin, A.R.T.’s 2012 Tony Award-winning revival of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess and The Public Theater’s 2009 Tony winning revival of HAIR. A.R.T.: The Donkey Show, a disco adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Prometheus Bound, a new musical inspired by Aeschylus’s ancient Greek tragedy, written by Tony Award-winner Steven Sater (Spring Awakening) with music composed by Grammy Award-winner Serj Tankian; Tod Machover’s Death and the Powers: The Robots’ Opera, finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize in Music; Best of Both Worlds; Johnny Baseball. Her other recent work includes Amaluna, Cirque du Soleil’s newest creation that world premiered in Montreal in April 2012. As an opera director, her credits include The Magic Flute, Il mondo della luna, Don Giovanni, Le nozze di Figaro, and the Monteverdi trilogy L’incoronazione di Poppea, Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria and Orfeo. Additional work includes Kiss Me, Kate (Glimmerglass Opera) and Lost Highway (ENO co-production with the Young Vic). Diane is a Professor of the Practice in Theater at Harvard University’s English Department and was named one of Boston Magazine’s 50 Most Powerful Bostonians in 2012. She was awarded the 2012 Founders Award for Excellence in Directing from the Drama League.

David Drake is a leading equity expert based in New York. He is the founder and chairman of LDJ Capital, a private equity advisory firm, and The Soho Loft, an event-driven global financial media company.

Mr. Drake is a strong advocate of innovative investing in early-stage equity and the US JOBS Act, for which he lobbied both Congress and the EU Commission. Because of his leading work in this space, he was a US Commerce Department delegate to the EU Commission in Brussels and Rome, and was invited in May 2013 to the White House Champions of Change ceremony in Washington, D.C.

His investment, The Soho Loft, produces and sponsors 150+ global events a year including one for the institutional media leader Thomson Reuters that featured speakers from Nasdaq, NYSE, KKR and Carlyle Group. He continues to advance innovative investing through his work as an international speaker and regular writer for major publications like Forbes and Thomson Reuters. He is the author of Crowd Fund Economics and co-authored the book Planet Entrepreneur: The World Entrepreneurship Forum’s Guide to Business Success Around the World.

His focus today is to take on board advisory positions at companies, angel networks and venture funds, and to guide them on such topics as international regulations, corporate strategy and fund structures, with emphasis on the growing trend of online investment automation for retail and angel investors.

Privately, Mr. Drake has hosted the Harvard Business Club of NY at his home, produced Carnegie Hall concerts and raised funds for the charities Trail Blazers and Best Buddies Carnegie Hall for many years.  Today he is a board director of the UBS Charity of the Year, London-based ARCHIVE Global, and is co-chair of the Tree Kangaroo Foundation in New York.

Born in Sweden and fluent in six languages, Mr. Drake has an MBA in Finance and an MA in International Law and Economics from George Washington University, where he was awarded the Wallenberg Scholarship for academic merit.

Todd Robbins is an award-winning performer and creative artist that has worked in many areas of popular entertainment and the performing arts during his thirty year career.

If Todd looks familiar to you, it’s probably because you have seen him on one of the more than 200 TV shows he has done. These include all major network morning shows, the late night talkfests of Letterman, Leno and Conan O’Brien and the NBC special, Extreme Variety.

Classically trained as an actor, he has put his performing abilities to good use in the two Drama Desk-nominated theater pieces that he created for off-Broadway. The first one, Carnival Knowledge, was a behind-the-scenes look at the world of the American sideshow and chronicled his work experiences in places like Coney Island. The second show was Play Dead, which he co-created with Teller (Penn & Teller). Play Dead just finished an extended run at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.

Currently, Todd is working with Discovery Studios on developing a TV-series based upon dark chapters of history. Robbins is also reviving the 1923 musical Poppy.

Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.  is a next-generation speaker, entrepreneur and media personality. A graduate of Yale University, Dexter’s impact and influence extends into the realms of business, ministry and entertainment.

He is the founder and CEO of Distinction Interactive (distinctioni.com), a company that specializes in mobile, video and web development. He is the head of digital for the world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, where he also serves as a video correspondent. Through his work on camera, he’s had the honor of interviewing the likes of Wayne Brady, Jennifer Holliday, Soledad O’Brien, Deborah Cox, Alexandra Burke, Kid Capri and Marcus Samuelson to name a few.

Additionally, Dexter is an ordained Christian minister and pastor, equipping an international audience through interactive video broadcasts and social media engagement. With a big smile and an even bigger heart, Dexter is a people person who desires to see all people maximize their personal, professional and spiritual potential. He is happily married to his college sweetheart, Lindsey Upshaw. They reside in Bridgeport, CT with their two-year-old daughter Zoë and their six-month-old son Dexter III.

Lea DeLaria’s is a seasoned Broadway performer; her extensive list includes Broadway: On the Town (Obie, Theatre World & Drama Desk nominee), The Rocky Horror Show. Off-Broadway/Regional: Caucasian Chalk Circle (Classic Stage Company), Prometheus Bound (ART), On the Town, Midsummer Night’s Dream (McCarter Theater), As You Like It (Williamstown Theater Festival), Happy Days (Drama League Honoree), Little Fish, Cinderella (NY City Opera), The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, Encores! and Reprise! Li’l Abner, Boys from Syracuse (Ovation nominee) She went on the national tour of Chicago. Lea Delaria has appeared in Dear Dumb Diary, Edge of Seventeen, The First Wives Club, Sgt. Bilko, Rescuing Desire, Mercury in Retrograde, Fat Rose & Squeaky, Sister Spirit. Additionally, she has been featured in “Orange is the New Black,” “Californication,” “One Life To Live,” “The Oblongs,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Friends,” “Will & Grace,” “Further Tales of the City,” “Matlock,” “Saved By The Bell: The New Class.” She is a featured Vocalist for the 50th Anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival. Delaria has four CD’s on the Warner Jazz label and her book,“Lea’s Book of Rules,” is in its 3rd printing with Dell Publishing.

Since 1989, Craig Dykers has established offices in Norway, Egypt, England, and in the United States. His interest in design as a promoter of social and physical well-being is supported by ongoing observation and development of an innovative design process. As one of the Founding Partners of Snøhetta, Craig has led many of the office’s prominent international projects, including the Alexandria Library in Egypt and the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet in Oslo, Norway.  He is currently overseeing Snøhetta’s four New York City projects: the National September 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion at the World Trade Center, the Times Square Reconstruction, the Far Rockaway Public Library in Queens, and the Westchester Branch Library in the Bronx. In 2011, Craig and Snøhetta collaborated with the Guggenheim Museum on immersive installations for their series titled “Stillspotting.”

Craig’s work has led to numerous international awards and recognitions including the Mies van der Rohe European Union Prize for Architecture, the World Architecture Award, the Aga Kahn Award for Architecture, among many others. He has lectured extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas.  He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Manufacturers, a LEED-accredited professional, and a member of the American and Norwegian Institutes of Architects.

Yao Huang is a highly entrepreneurial executive who works with businesses and start-ups in many industries with a focus on technology, assisting with revenue and funding. 

Yao is the Managing Partner at Pereg Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm affiliated with Nielsen looking at data and businesses that solve real-world marketing and advertising problems. She is also the founder of The Hatchery, a venture collaboration organization instrumental in developing the New York technology ecosystem with an advisory consultancy and incubator. She leads up the enterprise incubator in New York building products with corporate partners — from ideation, development, sales, funding to exit.

Forbes named Yao as one of eleven women at the center of New York’s digital scene, and by Beta Beat as one of 25 Women Driving New York’s Tech Scene. She also traveled with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Indonesia in 2011 as a member of the U.S. State Department Global Entrepreneurship Program Delegation.

Yao is a sought after speaker in areas of building internet companies, technology, social media, and entrepreneurship. Yao and her efforts have been featured in Fortune, Inc Magazine, Reuters, Daily News, Red Herring, Crains, and American Venture. She has a particular passion for helping entrepreneurs, women, and social causes with projects in place to build global communities, and pushing more women into executive positions.

Mark Fisher and Michael Keeler is the co-owner of Mark Fisher Fitness (MFF), one of the most successful gyms in the history of the fitness industry. Michael Keeler is also the  Business Wizard of Mark Fisher Fitness.  Within two years, MFF has grown from a single personal trainer to a staff of over 15, nearly 500 members, and it’s own physical location in midtown Manhattan.  With a reputation as the fitness home of choice for the Broadway community, Mark and MFF have been featured in Forbes, the NY Times, the NY Post, the Wall St. Journal, and NY1.

MFF has made waves in the fitness industry for its unprecedented growth, industry leading results, and unique take on fitness.  Living their mantra of “ridiculous humans, serious fitness,” MFF provides progressive training and nutrition protocols in a delivery system of subversive humor, fantastical imagery, and outrageous antics.  They also inexplicably talk about unicorns, call their clients “Ninjas,” and treat fun, community, and personal growth as core values.

In addition to fitness, Mark is a former professional actor with a BFA from Syracuse University,, served on the Advisory Board for NY City Center’s Off-Center, and has helped MFF raise over $100,000 for various charities in the past 18 months.

Prior to MFF, Michael Keeler managed customer-centric teams throughout the U.S. for the world-class Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. After pursuing his graduate studies at Drexel University in arts administration, he expanded his management skills to non-profit business, working as consultant for small/mid-sized performing arts organizations and for the Pew Charitable Trusts on their national arts and culture initiatives. In addition, Michael is also a Certified Life and Business Coach from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching.  To see if you’re a ridiculous human and more on unicorn magic, please visit markfisherfitness.com.

Dan Gurney, the CEO and founder of Concert Window, is a graduate of Harvard College with a B.A. in Music. He is a six-time United States Champion on the button accordion and has performed at Symphony Space, Sanders Theatre, and National Public Radio. His band, “The Yanks,” released their debut album earlier this year, which rose to #1 Top Seller on Bandcamp.

Prior to starting Concert Window, Dan wrote for Let’s Go Travel Guides in Greece and Thailand, filmed and edited a series of travel videos, and built websites for clients in advertising, art, and music. He started Concert Window in 2010 when he realized that musicians needed to find new revenue streams online. Concert Window allows artists to easily webcast and monetize their live shows online – the only equipment needed is a laptop. Fans around the world can tune in, buy tickets, and contribute tips and song requests in real time. To date, Concert Window has broadcasted over 2,000 live streams and worked with artists ranging from Mark O’Connor and Livingston Taylor to The Yardbirds and Best Coast.

From the creators of the Tony award-winning In the Heights, comes Freestyle Love Supreme (FLS).  FLS is a stage-show like no other. Five performers take the crowd on a non-stop, hip-hop improv ride, spinning cues from the audience into instantaneous riffs and fully realized musical numbers. The New York Times calls them, “Masters in the art of Freestyle rhyme.”

The group has performed at the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival, the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival, the Melbourne Comedy Festival, Paramount Comedy UK and the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. FLS includes Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anthony Veneziale, Chris Jackson, Chris “Shockwave” Sullivan, Andrew Bancroft, Arthur Lewis, James Iglehart and Bill Sherman, directed by Thomas Kail.  www.freestylelovesupreme.com

ROBERT LOPEZ is the multiple Tony, Grammy, and Emmy award-winning co-creator/composer/lyricist of Avenue Q and The Book Of Mormon. One of his upcoming works is co-written with his wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez and includes the songs from Disney’s new animated feature, Frozen. Another is an original musical, Up Here, to be directed by Alex Timbers.

Ainissa G. Ramirez, Ph.D. is passionate about getting the general public excited about science.  She is the author of Save Our Science (TED Books) based on her TED talk on improving science education and the co-author of Newton’s Football (Random House). Before this, she was a mechanical engineering professor at Yale University for ten years.

She received her training in materials science and engineering from Stanford University (Ph.D.) and Brown University (Sc.B.), and was named by MIT’s Technology Review as one of the world’s 100 Top Young Innovators.

Dr. Ramirez is driven to improve the public understanding of science. She speaks internationally about the importance of science education.   She has served as a science advisor to the American Film Institute, WGBH/NOVA, and has written for Time magazine.   At Yale, she was the director of the award-winning science lecture series for children called Science Saturdays, and was the host for two science video series, Material Marvels and Science Xplained.

Currently, she serves as the CEO of Science Underground, a science education consulting firm, which helps schools, cities, and countries prepare students for the 21st century. Based in New Haven, CT, she is currently writing a popular science book called Materials Girl.

Natasha Tsakos is a conceptual director, creator and performer from Geneva, Switzerland, now residing in the US. Her colorful spectrum in the performing arts allows her to produce ground-breaking work for the stage integrating technology in an interactive way.

Tsakos opened the G-20 Summit in 2012, created shows for the Discovery Channel which premiered at the Gotham Hall here on Broadway, performed in front of 90 million spectators with Cirque du Soleil for the Super Bowl Opening Ceremony 07, and at the Coachella Festival with Red Bull. She is the creator of 7 original multimedia productions including the live 3D animated show UP WAKE, OMEN which sprints through the history of mankind, ZO a full evening cross disciplinary spectacle incorporating 355 actors, dancers, singers, musicians, and visual artists from The Governor’s School for the Arts.

Tsakos has spoken at the TED conference, The International Symposium of Mixed & Augmented Reality, IBM Summit, LA CIUDAD DE LAS IDEAS, amongst others, and was a finalist for the World Technology Awards 2013 presented in association with CNN, Time and Fortune Magazine.

Natasha is grateful for the opportunity to share her vision at TEDxBroadway!

An award-winning designer, David Torpey co-founded Image Now Consultants while still in college. Working as a multidisciplinary designer and director, David’s work has lead him into the diverse fields of branding, television and film. His extensive creative and strategic experience working with clients including Sony Music, MTV, TV3, Adobe, Vodafone, and Riverdance has led to numerous awards and accolades over the past twenty years.

With a passion for emerging technologies, David constantly stays close to where technology is headed and uses it cleverly to push the boundaries, and create new layers on traditional creative methods. This has given him significant experience in 3D animation, motion graphics and video mapping. He created animated graphics for the award-winning documentary movie ‘The Summit,’ featured at Sundance Film Festival 2013. His more recent work includes the set projection design for the current production Heartbeat of Home. Working with the producers, he used the dynamic content and linked it through set projection and total stage immersion resulting in a strenuous emotional connection with the audience.

David very much looks forward to seeing how future technologies can be stretched to enhance the creative visions of the future.

Gabe Zichermann is the chair of GSummit (gsummit.com) where top gamification experts across industries gather to share knowledge and insight about customer & employee engagement and loyalty. He is also the Founder/Editor of Gamification.Co (gamification.co) and EQ magazine. He is an author, highly rated public speaker and entrepreneur whose new book, The Gamification Revolution (McGraw Hill, 2013 – gamrev.com) looks at how leaders are leveraging gamification strategy to crush the competition. His previous books, Gamification by Design (2011) and Game-Based Marketing (2010) have helped define the industry’s standards and frameworks, and continue to be key reference materials today. Gabe is the co-founder of strategic consultancy and product lab Dopamine (dopa.mn) where he works with leading brands and startups to bring engagement to every corner of their enterprise. Gabe resides in New York City, where he is co-director of startup accelerator The Founder Institute, and a board member of StartOut.org.