There’s a song stuck in Luca Hansen’s head.
It begins: “Being your slave, what should I do but tend upon the hours and times of your desire?”
While it’s actually a poem, or rather a Sonnet, the Coronado student says he began memorizing each line over winter break, discovering the piece’s true meaning in late January.
Hansen describes the sonnet as a beautiful soliloquy from an angry person telling another to stop taking advantage of them.
Since the poem’s meaning clicked for Hansen, he says, he finds himself reciting Shakespeare’s Sonnet 57 — a fourteen-line poem which means “a little sound or song” in Italian — in addition to a monologue from a separate Shakespeare play.
On Feb. 5 Hansen won his school’s English-Speaking Union Shakespeare Competition with his recitations of Sonnet 57 and Viola’s Ring speech from Twelfth Night.
“I loved the sonnet because… all those words of power – and I guess finding confidence for the first time – were coming from a place of love which I thought was really beautiful,” said Hansen. “(Viola’s) monologue was really sweet because Viola’s in love so that’s why this whole situation is so scary.”
He noted that the lines from Viola are “normally done by a woman” adding “I wanted to stand out in a way just by the pieces alone.”
Hansen, a junior attending the Coronado School of the Arts (CoSA) Musical Theatre & Drama conservatory, went on to win the regional competition in San Diego on Feb. 11.
In April, Hansen will represent San Diego at the National Shakespeare Competition in New York City hosted by the English-Speaking Union (ESU) of the United States, a nonprofit educational organization.
“My goal is to have fun and really learn a lot because in New York there’s a lot of (professional) actors that work with you,” said Hansen.
Aspiring actor
Hansen, who grew up in Coronado, says he committed to CoSA to pursue an acting career.
“Hopefully, I can dedicate my life to it because it’s how I express myself,” he added. “I love it.”
Hansen says the 2025 movie, “Eternity,” made him want to be an actor, highlighting actress Elizabeth Olsen’s performance as the main character, Joan.
“Watching actors handle such complex and deep roles, I’ve always strived to do that and reach that level,” added Hansen.
Hansen says an AP psychology course he is currently taking is helping him with acting.
“I like to place myself in the role and know what my character is thinking. And I think psychology can help with figuring out how they’re thinking,” he said.
Preparing for New York
Hansen said Twelfth Night is one of his favorite Shakespeare plays because he loves comedies. Now he’s working to have more fun with Viola’s monologue thanks to a regional judge’s advice.
“I’m a man playing a woman who’s dressed up as a man. … One of the judges was like ‘Pretend you have breasts,’” said Hansen
Hansen said another judge told him Shakespeare explores “a full body love.” Now he is practicing full body awareness by watching how different actors interpret Viola online.
Hansen said working with different teachers, including his college coach and acting teacher, has helped in the rehearsal process.
Kim Strassburger, Hansen’s acting teacher, said coaching Luca in the monologue and sonnet is truly a collaboration.
Strassburger, who oversees the Shakespeare competition at CoSA, said school-wide contests are performed before a panel of three judges who are professionals in theatre.
Regional winners go on to the nationals, where they attend workshops with prominent actors, see shows and tour the city before competing at Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater in Lincoln Center Theater.
According to the nationals’ program, up to 10 students advance to the final round for cash prizes and the opportunity to attend a summer drama program.
“My goal with CoSA and the Shakespeare competition was to learn and improve and do my best to help me in the future in hopefully making a career out of acting,” said Hansen.
