<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME FOR THE THREE-MONTH AND NINE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30,
2000 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-30-2000 SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> APR-01-2000 OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000 JUN-30-2000
<CASH> 3,474 3,474
<SECURITIES> 0 0
<RECEIVABLES> 12,632 12,632
<ALLOWANCES> (790) (790)
<INVENTORY> 12,803 12,803
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 30,262 30,262
<PP&E> 153,634 153,634
<DEPRECIATION> 86,893 86,893
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 104,431 104,431
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 57,639 57,639
<BONDS> 0 0
0 0
0 0
<COMMON> 0 0
<OTHER-SE> 42,054 42,054
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 104,431 104,431
<SALES> 3,819 10,295
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 21,509 69,907
<CGS> 2,407 6,329
<TOTAL-COSTS> 10,490 34,215
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 10,464 32,630
<LOSS-PROVISION> 53 83
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,149 3,575
<INCOME-PRETAX> (647) (596)
<INCOME-TAX> (255) (235)
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 0
<DISCONTINUED> 0 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0
<CHANGES> 0 0
<NET-INCOME> (392) (361)
<EPS-BASIC> (0.05) (0.05)
<EPS-DILUTED> (0.05) (0.05)
</TABLE>