Best settings for low light no flash photography with a DSLR?

I have some experience with DSLRs and have taken a photography and plan to take more soon, but I'm not sure of the settings I should use for this situation.

I take a lot of pictures at concerts and I was wondering what sort of settings I should use in a low light situation where I may not be able to use flash? Obviously, the performers will be moving and so I must be able to capture clear shots of them if possible.

I own a Nikon D50 with a 55-200mm 1:4-5.6 lens.

What settings would you suggest so I can get good pictures in low light of moving objects with no flash?

I CAN USE FLASH if necessary so if I can't do it without flash that is fine!

I know how to use the M and P settings, I just do not know what would be best to set them on.

Note: I do not have the money to buy a new camera or lens please do not leave answers telling me to do so, please only leave answers with suggested settings (what aperture, shutter speed, ISO, ect.)

Added (1). I have had a 2 semester digital photography class during which we learned how to use DSLR cameras, however I sometimes have trouble retaining information. I lost my notes from this class and I'm still trying to find them.

Small appperture, longer(but still short) shutter speed, and a higher exposure

The best settings under low light conditions is as follows

* Shoot with the lens wide open
* Use the highest ISO your camera supports
* Turn on all the NR (noise reduction) features your cameras has.
* In post, use the noise reduction feature your photo program has
* Find the "pools" of light on the stage and meter for them. Then when the performer is under those lights, take your shot. Use your camera in the manual mode metered for those pools of light

I'm surprised that these steps were not evident to you. How much education do you have in photography?

Have a look at these free videos to refresh your memory, http://www.mccordall.com/photography/ look at the ones on aperture, iso and exposure.

Basically you need to have to decide shutterspeed first say 125th then aperture probably f5.6, once you have decided those set the iso at the level that will allow those settings, to work

You have 2 semesters of digital photography courses and you can;t remember the exposure triangle of ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture? That was money well spent don;t you think?

The settings will be dependent on the available light in the scene so there are no "standard" settings. The lens you are using is fairly useless for low light, you could get a 50mm f1.8 for around 140$Can.

1- So bump up your ISO until the point just before the image starts getting too noisy.
2- Open your lens as wide as it will open (the smallest f# it can go to)
3- Adjust your shutter speed to get the proper exposure.

At f/4 with 6400 (high boost on the D5000 you can pull off a 1/30th shutter at EV 3. That high an ISO and that slow a shutter will introduce problems. But you may be able to pull it off if nothing is moving. The fact remains you simply will need a faster lens.