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Nanette, you don't just need an electrician, you need a theatrical electrician. You need someone who works in the industry and understands the unique requirements of a theatre venue.
I highly recommend the lighting systems from ETC. They are a leader in dimming systems, computer dimmer boards, as well as outstanding elipsoidal spotlights. They sell stuff for big theaters that is expensive, but they have some new portable lighting set-ups that are very affordable. Contact ETC and they will put you in touch with a rep. in your area who can draw up some different proposals for you.
In order to power the minimum stage lighting that you need, you will need your local commercial electrical contractor to install a large transformer with a new breaker panel. (If your building is so old that it still has "fuses"...you should be afraid...very afraid!)
The bad news for you is that in order to install your power supply and your dimmer racks, you may need to invest at least 50 to 100 grand. This is something that would require a large effort by your community and support from your local government.
If your present electrical system can only support 4 PAR Cans, then I would strongly advise against having your local techies try to jerry rig something. Someone will get zapped, or you will have a fire, or at very least, your power could go out on opening night. And after a worst-case electrical accident happens, could get you into legal problems with OSHA and/or your local fire marshall.
Yes, I understand how little money a small theatre company can have. I was there once. I feel a little guilty sitting here in my 6 million dollar theatre with 200 thousand watts of Source4 lekos and offering you advice. But I was in your exact position 30 years ago.
I was in an auditorium built in 1927 with old two-conductor wiring and asbestos insulation on the pigtails of our antique plano-convex spotlights. We had 12 dimmers backstage that were in a rack the size of three refrigerators! We called it "crispy critters" because of the crackling noises it made and smell of fried mice! In order to blackout all the dimmers at once, we needed two guys with 2x4s to push down all the big dimmer handles!
And when I did lights for a play held at an old church, I used homemade 150 watt PAR cans made out of #10 soup cans!...plus several household dimmers mounted in a wooden box. This infamous system was called "Trashtronics"! One night the show went dark because someone used the water fountain!...which was on the same outlet circuit as the spotlights. So, I can relate....
Well, anyway...you could "get by" on the cheap with a small lighting system. But even if you purchase used light fixtures and a tiny dimmer board from some local rock band...then you would STILL need power to run the stuff. You really need to get your antique wiring replaced before you get in trouble. Hey, maybe you can parlay the safety issue into a public urgency to support your fundraising efforts!
So, first things first:
1) A utility transformer with enough power to expand on your lighting package over the coming years.
2) A new breaker panel with circuits that can handle your expected loads.
3) Power distribution to plugs on the stage floor level, the stage electrics or grid, and the front of house or balcony positions.
Then, once you have the juice, you are finally SAFE. From that point, you are then ready to add on dimmer racks, dimmer controls, and new spotlights.
Nanette, please tell us where you are located and maybe someone on this Forum could recommend some good local consultants and contractors for you. Who knows, maybe there is another theatre within driving distance of you who's willing to donate some old lekos and fresnels to your efforts.
Good luck. -Dana
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Mr. Lowell,
Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director,
for the Linda Sloan Theatre,
in the Davison Center for the Arts,
at Greensboro Day School
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