Rate My Professor Kim LaFontaine

Kim LaFontaine serves as Professor and Chair Emeritus of the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he made profound contributions to the field of arts and culture through academic leadership and creative production. Holding a B.A. from the University of South Alabama and an M.F.A. from the University of Southern California in 1981, LaFontaine joined UTA in 1999 as Professor and Chair of the Theatre Arts Department following a competitive national search. He held the chair position continuously until his retirement in 2020, during which time the department underwent remarkable expansion and development.

Under LaFontaine's stewardship, the faculty and staff grew to exceed 30 members, supporting a diverse array of programs and productions. He founded the Maverick Theatre Company and Maverick Dance Company, establishing them as the department's flagship production entities. New academic offerings included a BFA concentration in Musical Theatre and a minor in Dance, enhancing opportunities in performing arts. In 2004, physical infrastructure improvements were realized, featuring the addition of a second black box theatre, an upgraded costume studio, and expanded faculty office spaces. These developments contributed to a surge in student enrollment, with majors rising from 68 in 1991 to about 140 by 2021, reflecting the program's rising prominence in arts and culture education. LaFontaine's creative output included scenic design for key mainstage productions such as West Side Story in March 2017 and 2016, and The Man Who Came to Dinner in 2016, all presented by the Maverick Theatre Company at UTA. As producer for both the Maverick Theatre Company and Maverick Dance Company, he oversaw numerous performances, fostering professional training and artistic excellence. His enduring legacy continues to shape the department's commitment to innovative theatre arts and dance within the University of Texas at Arlington's College of Liberal Arts.