<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE AUDITED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 AND 2000 AND THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME FOR THE TWELVE-MONTH PERIODS ENDED SEPTEMBER
30, 1999 AND 2000 OF VARI-LITE INTERNATIONAL, INC. AS SET FORTH IN THIS FORM
10-K AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999             SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1998             OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999             SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                           1,969                   4,315
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   13,776                  13,109
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (720)                   (740)
<INVENTORY>                                      6,586                  13,695
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                23,326                  31,731
<PP&E>                                         160,373                 145,034
<DEPRECIATION>                                  83,323                  84,097
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 107,700                  94,703
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           23,492                  33,026
<BONDS>                                         39,459                  18,136
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              785                     785
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                      42,450                  40,963
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   107,700                  94,703
<SALES>                                         13,012                  17,322
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                91,532                  93,688
<CGS>                                            7,393                  10,881
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   46,950                  46,871
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                44,410                  42,111
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   720                     740
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               4,540                   5,180
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (4,368)                   (474)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (1,725)                   (187)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (2,643)                   (287)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (2,643)                   (287)
<EPS-BASIC>                                     (0.34)                  (0.04)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.34)                  (0.04)


</TABLE>