As economical and easy as that would be, I think the OP is aiming for faster shutter speeds to capture what's going on onstage, which is why an f/1.4 or f/1.8 prime fits the bill.I have limited experience with photography as well, but it seems like a tripod would be an economical solution to your problem. I know it isn't as cool and quick as being able to snap a bunch of different angles, but a good tripod goes for $50. You can just leave the shutter open for longer, and it should be easier to get rich colors anyway. Just a thought!