<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 THE CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME FOR THE TWELVE-MONTH PERIODS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND
1999 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-30-1998             SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997             OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998             SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                           3,838                   1,969
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   14,370                  13,776
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (899)                   (720)
<INVENTORY>                                      6,075                   6,586
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                25,133                  23,326
<PP&E>                                         153,018                 160,373
<DEPRECIATION>                                  71,745                  83,323
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 114,627                 107,700
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           18,931                  23,492
<BONDS>                                         47,284                  39,459
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           785                     785
<OTHER-SE>                                      43,919                  42,450
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   114,627                 107,700
<SALES>                                         13,513                   7,669
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                88,376                  91,532
<CGS>                                            9,880                   5,389
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   43,644                  46,950
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                46,389                  44,546
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   899                     720
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,818                   4,404
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (4,475)                 (4,368)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (1,785)                 (1,725)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (2,690)                 (2,643)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  (737)                       0
<CHANGES>                                        (195)                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (3,622)                 (2,643)
<EPS-BASIC>                                     (0.47)                  (0.34)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.47)                  (0.34)


</TABLE>