Kelly Key: Stories Born From Fire and Lightning.
Skene Staff
A powerful profile of Mexican actress and author Kelly Key, exploring creativity, motherhood, resilience, and the act of creating from truth.
A powerful profile of Mexican actress and author Kelly Key, exploring creativity, motherhood, resilience, and the act of creating from truth.
Lighting designer Jennifer Gonzalez transforms story into emotion through light, celebrating culture, community, and underrepresented voices.
Jay Duckworth shares his proven method for building the perfect theater props list, tested on shows like Hamilton and Fun Home.
Lighting designer Miguel Pérez Cuesta reflects on the silent artistry of light and its power to move audiences through emotion.
Explore EXPO SCÈNE with CITT ICTS and OFFSTAGE host Josafath Reynoso. A deep look at careers community and live performance in Canada.
Disclosure: Purchases made through affiliate links support Skene at no extra cost to you.
I still remember the first time I tried to light a black box performance with almost no budget. I had a handful of mismatched fixtures, one wobbly dimmer pack, and a control board that looked like it belonged in a museum. The cast was brilliant, the set was minimal, but without proper lighting, the magic just didn’t land. That experience taught me something essential: you don’t need to spend like Broadway to create powerful, atmospheric lighting. You just need the right tools, a little creativity, and a smart strategy.
Small theatres and black box spaces often face the same hurdle—how to provide professional-looking lighting without the resources of a large venue. Traditional stage lighting equipment can be expensive, bulky, and energy-hungry. But thanks to the rise of LED technology and plug-and-play systems, small companies now have more affordable options than ever before.
As lighting designer Rick Fisher once said, “Light is the quickest way to transform space and mood.” The good news? Transforming space doesn’t have to drain your budget.
LED fixtures have revolutionized small theatre lighting. Unlike traditional incandescent instruments, LEDs are energy-efficient, lightweight, and versatile. Many models don’t require external dimmers, making them easier to set up in multipurpose or portable spaces.
For small theatres, a set of 6–8 LED pars can already cover most basic stage needs—general washes, accents, and even some creative effects.
The CHAUVET DJ GIGBAR 2 is an all-in-one LED lighting system designed for DJs, clubs, events, and stage shows. It features a 4-in-1 light bar combining LED Derby effects, LED pars, strobe lights, and a laser—all in one unit. The system includes UV in both pars and strobes for richer color mixing and more dramatic visual effects. With built-in sound-activated and automatic programs, as well as DMX control, wireless foot-switch, and remote capabilities, users can customize their light show easily. It comes ready to mount or tripod-stand, making setup quick, and includes carry bags for portability.
The Elation SIX+ PAR L (Part #SIX213) is a professional-grade LED PAR fixture featuring 14 high-output 20W RGBLA+UV LEDs, delivering over 7,300 lumens with a high CRI of 91.7. Its IP65 rating ensures durability in outdoor and harsh environments, while the C4-M marine-grade coating provides additional protection. The fixture offers a 12° beam angle, with a 20° lens included, and operates silently with a fanless cooling system. It supports 16-bit selectable dimming modes and curves, remote LED refresh rate, and flicker-free operation, making it ideal for TV and film applications.
The next piece of the puzzle is control. Complex lighting consoles are powerful, but for many small spaces, they’re overkill. Plug-and-play systems simplify this without sacrificing quality.
The CHAUVET DJ Obey 70 is a versatile DMX-512 lighting controller designed for both novice and professional lighting designers. It offers control over up to 12 intelligent lights, each with up to 32 channels, totaling 384 DMX channels. The controller features 30 banks of 8 scenes, allowing for 240 scenes in total, and supports 6 sets of chases with 240 scenes each. Programmable fade and speed times, reversible sliders, and an assignable joystick enhance user control. Additional features include fog and strobe control, beat activation, tap-sync, auto-run, and MIDI compatibility, all housed in a 4-space 19″ rackmount design
The CHAUVET DJ OBEY40 is a versatile DMX-512 lighting controller designed for DJs, bands, and venues seeking advanced control over their lighting setups. It allows users to manage up to 12 fixtures, each with up to 16 channels, offering a total of 192 DMX channels. The controller features 30 banks of 8 scenes, enabling the storage of up to 240 scenes. Additional functionalities include 6 sets of chase effects, fog and strobe control, beat activation, tap-sync, and auto-run. Its compact 3U rackmount design ensures easy integration into various setups, making it a reliable choice for dynamic lighting control.
If you’re starting from scratch, starter kits can be lifesavers. They’re designed to provide an all-in-one solution at a price point that small theatres can manage.
As one community theatre director told me, “Our first Chauvet kit was a revelation—it gave us consistency, color, and reliability we’d never had before.”
The Chauvet DJ SlimPAR Kit offers a comprehensive lighting solution, ideal for DJs, bands, and event venues. It includes four Chauvet DJ SlimPar Pro W USB variable white LED par can wash lights, featuring cool white, warm white, and amber LEDs for adjustable color temperatures. The bundle also comes with a Chauvet LED Wash Light Controller, providing intuitive control over your lighting setup. To ensure easy transport and protection, an RLB30 Bag is included. Additionally, the package contains RDX3M25 and RDX3M10 DMX lighting cables, facilitating seamless connectivity between your equipment. This all-in-one package is designed to meet the lighting needs of various events and performances.
The Mega Flat PAK EP is a comprehensive lighting solution designed for mobile entertainers, DJs, and event venues. This package includes four Mega Par Profile EP LED wash fixtures, each featuring 107 RGB+UV LEDs for vibrant color mixing and a 30° beam angle suitable for uplighting and stage washes. The system comes with four 3-foot IEC to Edison power cables, three 6-foot DMX cables, and a soft transport bag for easy storage and portability. With multiple operation modes, including DMX, sound active, and auto-run, the Mega Flat PAK EP offers versatility and convenience for various lighting applications.
Even with affordable gear, smart choices make your investment go further:
At its heart, lighting design is about storytelling, not just equipment. Small theatres don’t need Broadway budgets to make bold choices. In fact, limitations can fuel creativity—forcing designers to focus on essentials like mood, visibility, and dramatic effect.
That said, every space is unique. It’s always wise to seek advice from an experienced lighting professional, especially when dealing with electrical safety or investing in a new system.
Lighting on a budget doesn’t mean settling for less. With the right mix of LED fixtures, plug-and-play control, and thoughtful design, even the smallest black box theatre can shine as brightly as a main stage. The tools are out there—you just need to choose wisely and let your creativity do the rest.
Lighting on a budget doesn’t mean settling for less. With the right mix of LED fixtures, plug-and-play control, and thoughtful design, even the smallest black box theatre can shine as brightly as a main stage. The tools are out there—you just need to choose wisely and let your creativity do the rest.
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