<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE AUDITED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND THE CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME FOR THE TWELVE-MONTH PERIODS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND
1998 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-30-1997             SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1996             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                           1,862                   3,838
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   14,895                  14,371
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (450)                   (900)
<INVENTORY>                                      4,050                   6,075
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                22,893                  25,133
<PP&E>                                         123,893                 153,018
<DEPRECIATION>                                (55,248)                (71,745)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  96,704                 114,627
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           23,722                  18,931
<BONDS>                                         38,418                  47,284
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           585                     785
<OTHER-SE>                                      26,956                  43,919
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    96,704                 114,627
<SALES>                                         15,129                  13,513
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                90,658                  88,376
<CGS>                                           10,676                   9,880
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   40,047                  43,644
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                39,640                  46,389
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   134                     641
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               3,726                   2,818
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  7,245                 (4,475)
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,916                 (1,785)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              4,329                 (2,690)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                   (737)
<CHANGES>                                            0                   (195)
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,329                 (3,622)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.75                  (0.47)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.74                  (0.47)
        

</TABLE>