Controller circuit for flashing light segments

Spam

A friend of mine does the props for a Kids TV show and he's come to me for help with a prop to do some flashing light effects since I did some electronics wiring work for him a while ago. Problem is, I know bugger all about actual lighting controllers, so I can't really help him much, but I wondered if anyone here had any ideas:

I need to build a 'brain hat' thing for the show. They want it to be like an external addon brain sorta thing. They also want it to light up. So far, no worries. Now, the problem for me is that they would like it to flash on and off in segments, which again, is no drama. The drama begins when they told me that as well as the single segments flashing and changing, they want a mode where the segments will flash at randomish speed and frequency like a sort of disco light effect. They also want this to be portable, and controlled by the actor.

My thoughts where toward some sort of wired device that can be carried in a pocket, that has a button which cycles the mode.

E.G.
Mode 1: individual segments flash on and off, changing segments after a few flashes.

Mode 2: As mode 1 but faster

Mode 3: All lights flashing semi random.

So for this, do I need a controller chip, or board or what??

My first instinct is to nip out and buy a cheap toy which does random flashing light effects and cannibilise it, but I'm struggling to find anything suitable. I don't think his budget will stretch to anything like a professional lighting controller, so anyone got any thoughts?

Goofball

Maybe the controller(s) out of a Christmas light string would work? Home Depot and Costco I know both already have Christmas lights on sale in my area. You would want to find something that runs off of an AC/DC transformer so that you can use batteries to power it.