<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF JUNE 30, 1998 AND THE CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME FOR THE THREE-MONTH AND NINE-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30,
1998 OF VARI-LITE INTERNATIONAL, INC. AS SET FORTH IN THIS FORM 10-Q AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998             SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1998             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998             JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                           3,611                   3,611
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   15,611                  15,611
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (583)                   (583)
<INVENTORY>                                      6,708                   6,708
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                27,949                  27,949
<PP&E>                                         146,945                 146,945
<DEPRECIATION>                                  68,029                  68,029
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 114,403                 114,403
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           18,359                  18,359
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           785                     785
<OTHER-SE>                                      47,555                  47,555
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   114,403                 114,403
<SALES>                                          3,482                  10,093
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                22,529                  64,275
<CGS>                                            2,627                   7,297
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   11,023                  30,728
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                10,844                  30,205
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    81                     139
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 661                   1,958
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      1                   1,384
<INCOME-TAX>                                         1                     547
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0                       0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                     737
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                         0                     100
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.00                    0.01
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.00                    0.01
        

</TABLE>