<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF MARCH 31, 1998 AND THE CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME FOR THE THREE-MONTH AND SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED MARCH 31,
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                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998             SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998             MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                           3,592                   3,592
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   14,862                  14,862
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (555)                   (555)
<INVENTORY>                                      6,749                   6,749
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                26,642                  26,642
<PP&E>                                         137,735                 137,735
<DEPRECIATION>                                  64,568                  64,568
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 106,202                 106,202
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           14,331                  14,331
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              785                     785
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                      48,394                  48,394
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   106,202                 106,202
<SALES>                                          3,262                   6,611
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                19,227                  35,135
<CGS>                                            2,356                   4,670
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    9,824                  19,705
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 9,531                  19,361
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    59                      90
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 568                   1,297
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  (696)                   1,383
<INCOME-TAX>                                     (275)                     546
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0                       0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                     737
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     (421)                     100
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.05)                    0.01
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.05)                    0.01
        

</TABLE>