Karl Michael Iglesias

… contains multitudes as a Puerto Rican actor, director, and author hailing from Milwaukee, WI. Formerly the Creative Director for the Office of Multicultural Art Initiatives at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he passionately continues his exploration of new contemporary performance in verse. Discovering his love for the stage through international spoken word festivals and as an emcee, Karl has opened regionally for notable acts including Anderson Paak, Mac Miller, Chance The Rapper, Ludacris, and Kendrick Lamar, among others. His journey has led him to present or assist in verse work at esteemed venues such as The Public Theater, Dance Theater of Harlem, and The Kennedy Center. As an actor, Karl is a proud member of both AEA and SAG/AFTRA Unions, with television appearances on shows like Chicago PD, Instinct, The Last OG, and EVIL. Karl is a seasoned facilitator and a professional director specializing in verse work and new BIPOC creations for both stage and screen. In 2024, Karl made history as the only director in the history of the Drama League to receive two fellowships in the same year, The Irene Gandy Assistantship and the Future Now Stage Directing Fellowship. 

Karl's poetic voice resonates beyond the performance space and can be found in distinguished publications including the Florida Review, RHINO Poetry, Brooklyn Review, Madison Review, and Breakbeat Poets Vol4: Latinext (2020). He is also the author of the collections of poetry 'Catch a Glow' and ‘The Bounce’ both available on Finishing Line Press. Karl lives in Brooklyn, NY. Hip Hop.