A PAR light, or parabolic aluminized reflector light, is one of the most common lighting tools used in theater. Depending on their quality and features, PAR lights can be expensive. Fortunately, it isn't difficult to make one yourself.
You'll need a 6-inch-wide stove pipe, measuring 12 inches in length, as well as its end cap. You'll also need a light bulb receptacle, wiring box, extension cord and flood light. All these parts can be found easily at a hardware store and should cost no more than $20. Use heat-resistant glue or screws to put the parts together.
Connect the wiring box and the end cap. The light bulb receptacle can then be wired into the wiring box, followed by the flood light. The stove pipe will serve as the reflector around the light bulb. Attach a handle to your PAR light, which can be fashioned out of a narrow strip of aluminum and screwed into the stove pipe casing.
If you're planning to apply your lighting setup to a relatively small room and the distance between the light and the stage isn't too great, you can easily create your own follow spot, also known as a spotlight. To do this, you'll need to create a second homemade PAR light. This PAR, however, should be more directional. Try using a longer stove pipe to achieve this. You can also consider adding an iris adjust to the end of the pipe to change the diffusion of the light on the fly.
Attach the PAR to a camera tripod. It should be heavy duty and stable and capable of fast motion. The tripod should also be capable of locking in position. You'll need to attach a handle to the PAR, since the light will become hot during operation. Wear leather gloves any time you're operating or adjusting a homemade theater light.