It was established last 1995, and it was founded by Christian D. Pelayo, Ph., an alumnus of the Basic Education Department. The original name of DLSAE is TANGHALANG ARANETA ENSEMBLE, and the very 1st Theatre Season Production (1995-1996) is a back-to-back stageplays of BATAS NG KALIKASAN, and SA NGALAN NG AMA, held at Rizal Hall. It was a great challenge for Mr. Pelayo to retain the theatre compan
y since he was still finishing his Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy during that time. After the success of this production, it was preceded by several productions and competitions in and out of the campus. However, the same kind of production was never repeated after the 1st Theatre Season. TANGHALANG ARANETA ENSEMBLE stopped for three consecutive years. Year 1999 was the rebirth of TANGHALANG ARANETA ENSEMBLE, and the name was changed to DULAANG ARANETA ENSEMBLE (DAE). Pelayo’s come back was another great success when the 1st Theatre Season Production (1999-2000) under the new name was materialized. This composed of the back-to-back stageplays, AMBON NG KRISTAL, and MOSES, MOSES, and it was held at Rizal Hall. After this production, DAE conducted several performances in and out of the campus, and the 2nd Theatre Season Production for the play ANG SISTEMA NI PROPESOR TUKO was planned during that time. However, this production never happened, and DAE stopped by year 2001. After eight succeeding years without theatre in the campus, Engr. Aleksandre Pates, one of the alumnus of Basic Education Department, and mentee of Mr. Pelayo during DAE (1999-2001), came back last 2008 to revive the theatre. This happened after he finished his Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics Communication Engineering, and he got his licensed. Thus, DULAANG LA SALLE ARANETA ENSEMBLE (DLSAE) was born. At first, it was a really big challenge for Engr. Pates to reestablish DLSAE since it has been out for quite some time. Also, last 2008, there was a huge difference in the administration because De La Salle System completely took the management of the school. However, after a series of debate and project proposals, DLSAE was given another chance to prove themselves on stage. The 1st Theatre Season Production (2008-2009) of DLSAE is a back-to-back musical and drama stageplays of SI ATE BILANG PISO: ISANG MUSIKAL, and AMBON NG KRISTAL, and it was held at Rizal Hall. The 1st play in this production is the very first Musical Play of DLSAE. This production ran for 6 days, and has a total of 12 shows (2 shows per day). After the resounding success of the 1st Theatre Season, the 2nd Theatre Season Production (2009-2010) featuring the stageplays, TRABAHO SOLILOQUIES, and ANG SISTEMA NI PROPESOR TUKO immediately followed. It was also held at Rizal Hall which ran for 6 days, and has a total of 12 shows as well (2 shows per day). On the 3rd Theatre Season Production (2010-2011), DLSAE has encountered financial problem. This has led them to produce only one stageplay, entitled CAÑAO: ISANG SAYAW NG PAGSASALINGLAHI. This was also held at Rizal Hall which ran for 4 days, and has a total of 12 shows (3 shows per day). The following school year, DLSAE was able to produce their 2nd Original Musical Play entitled A IS E FOR LAILA. This is their very 1st English Musical Play which was part of their 4th Theatre Season Production (2011-2012). The shows were held at Osmeña Hall which ran for 5 days, and has a total of 10 shows (2 shows per day). Due to the changed in DLSAU Management, the school’s priority was changed and DLSAE stopped for a year. During this downtime, Engr. Pates produced DLSAE’s first ever studio album of the Official Sound Track of A IS E FOR LAILA on June 2014. It was also during this time that DLSAE’s model was changed from Project-Based into a Theatre Class-Based. Unlike the Project-Based model, Engr. Pates has created syllabi for DLSAE members to offer them a more formal training. These syllabi are for the following courses: BASIC THEATRE (THTRE101), ADVANCED THEATRE (THTRE102), MUSICAL THEATRE (THTRE103), DESIGN AND PRODUCTION (THTRE104), and SCENE STUDY AND ADVANCED ACTING STUDIES (THTRE105). DLSAE marked its 5th Theatre Season Production (2014-2015) which featured another back-to-back stageplays ONDOY: ANG BUHAY SA BUBONG, and MOSES,MOSES. This was held at Rizal Hall which ran for 7 days, and has a total 13 shows (2 shows per regular day including 1 gala show). Since DLSAE has shifted to Theatre Class-Based, another major event was lined up on their list, the RECITAL PLAY FESTIVALS. In this event, the key players (director, stage manager, production design/assistants, and actors) of the production are the DLSAE Senior Core Members, Junior Core Members, and the New Members themselves. The 1st Recital Play Festival (2015-2016) was held successfully at the Performing Arts Hall, and it featured six different One-Act Plays namely SINO SI AKO?, MAY ISANG SUNDALO, WALANG IWANAN, TINGNAN NATIN ANG MUKHA NIYA, OVER A CUP OF COFFEE, and EYEBALL. This production ran for 3 days, and has a total of 6 shows (2 shows per day). For the 6th Theatre Season Production (2016-2017), DLSAE featured another back-to-back stageplays entitled UNANG DALAW, and TATLONG UNGAS. This production was also part of the Cultural Arts Festival 2016. It was held at Performing Arts Hall, and it ran for 2 days which has a total of 4 shows (2 shows per day). DLSAE declared their first batch of BASIC THEATRE COURSE (THTRE101) graduates during their Christmas Party 2016 celebration. This includes the following students: Jowi Jireh Cruz, Shane Domingo, Victor Angelo Fuentebella, Marinelle Ortiz Luis, and Arjay Valiente. After a school year, the 2nd Recital Play Festival (2016-2017) was held successfully at the Performing Arts Hall. However, as compared from last year's 6 stageplays, this production only featured 2 plays namely JOHN… (ANG UNANG REGLA NI JOHN), and DOC RESURECCION: GAGAMUTIN ANG BAYAN. Currently, they are preparing for their 7th Theatre Season Production (2017-2018) featuring the stageplay, TWENTY QUESTIONS. As of June 2017, DLSAE was able to produce and presented a total of 23 stageplays. Pates is the current Artistic/Creative Director since 2008. DLSAE will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary by 2018.
