<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
785 785
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>