Janine LaManna

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Janine LaManna
Born (1966-06-14) June 14, 1966
Rochester, New York, U. S.
Other nameJanine McDermott
EducationWagner College
Occupations
  • Actress
  • Singer
  • Voice actress
  • Vocal couch
Years active1988 – present
Spouse
Mike McDermott
​
(m. 2005)​
Children2

Janine LaManna (born June 14, 1966) is an American actress and singer.[1][2] She is known for her extensive work in Broadway musicals and she is the first actress to portray the live-action character of Carmen Sandiego on the PBS series Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?.[3][4][5][6]

Early life and education

Janine LaManna was born in Rochester, New York.[7] She graduated from Wagner College and she was honored with the Wagner College Fellows Award in recognition for her professional achievements.[1]

Career

LaManna has worked in many Broadway productions.[8][6][5] Her performance in Seussical as Gertrude McFuzz earned her a Drama Desk Award nomination.[6]

LaManna's Broadway credits include roles in Kiss of the Spider Woman (1994–1996), Chicago (1997–2000), Ragtime (1998–2000), Kiss Me, Kate (1999–2001), Seussical (2000–2001) for which she received a Drama Desk Award nomination, Sweet Charity (2005), and The Drowsy Chaperone (2007).[5][6] She has also appeared in numerous regional and Off-Broadway productions, such as Evita, Aida (IRNE-nominated), Noises Off, and The Prom.[1]

LaManna originated the live-action role of Carmen Sandiego in the first season of the PBS series Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego? in 1996.[7][1][9] Her other screen credits include appearances in the film Two Weeks Notice, she voiced The Sirens for Samurai Jack, a role as Paquette in Great Performances, and a role in Devious Maids.[1][10][11]

As a singer, LaManna has performed in solo concerts and as a guest artist internationally.[5] A highlight of her career was singing at the White House in 2007 for the National Military Spouse Appreciation Day event.[1] She debuted her solo concert "Black & Gold" in New York in 2023.[12]

Personal life

LaManna is married to retired U.S. Army Major Mike McDermott, with whom she has two children including a daughter Mia McDermott and a son Liam McDermott.[7][6] As a military spouse, she has spoken about balancing her acting career with military family life, relocating to North Carolina near Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg).[5] In addition to performing, LaManna works as a vocal coach.[1]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego? Carmen Sandiego PBS series[3]
2005 59th Tony Awards Herself TV special
2005 Great Performances Paquette Episode: Leonard Bernstein's Candide, a Comic Operetta in Two Acts
2015 Devious Maids Party Goer Episode: Awakenings[1]
2020 Wait in the Wings Gertrude McFuzz Episode: The Fall & Redemption of Seussical

Animation

List of voice performances in animation
YearTitleRole(s)Notes
2003Samurai JackThe SirenEpisode: The Scotsman Saves Jack: Part II[13]

Web series

Year Title Role Notes
2020Stars in the HouseJanineEpisode: Seussical Cast Reunion

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Two Weeks Notice Elaine Cominsky [1]
2004 Flops 101: Lessons from the Biz Janine

Stage

Theatre

Year Title Role(s) Venue(s) Notes
1993EvitaEva PerónPittsburgh Musical Theater[14]
1994Kiss of the Spider WomanSpider Woman / AuroraBroadhurst Theatre[1]
1997ChicagoVelma Kelly / JuneWest End[1]
1998RagtimeEvelyn NesbitBroadway[1]
1999Swing!Ms. Callaway & Ms. BenantiSt. James Theatre[1]
2000SeussicalGertrude McFuzzBoston TryoutDrama Desk Award nomination[6]
2001Kiss Me, KateLois Lane / BiancaVictoria Palace Theatre[1]
2003HarmonyPerformerForrest Theatre[15]
2003The Look of LovePerformerBrooks Atkinson Theatre[1]
2004CandidePaquettePhilharmonic concert[1]
2004AidaAmnerisNorth Shore Music Theatre[16]
2005Sweet CharityNickieAl Hirschfeld Theatre[1]
2007The Drowsy ChaperoneJanet Van De GraaffWest End production[1]
2019Noises OffBelinda BlairThe Cape Playhouse[17]
2022The PromDee Dee AllenWhite Plains Performing Arts Center[18]
2023Black & GoldPerformerThe Green Room 42[19]
2024In the SpotlightSeussical354 West 54th Street
2025Regency GirlsLady Catherine & Madame RestellThe Old Globe[20][21]
2026Oedipus!Jocasta54 Below

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryResultTitleRef.
2001Drama Desk AwardsDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a MusicalNominatedSeussical[6]
200244th Annual Grammy AwardsBest Musical Show AlbumNominated[1]
2004Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE)Outstanding Actress in a MusicalNominatedAida[1]
2006Wagner CollegeWagner College Fellows AwardsHonouredFor Professional Achievement[1]
2019BroadwayWorld Jackson AwardsBest Lead Actress in a MusicalWonThe Sweet Potato Queens[22]
2023BroadwayWorld Regional AwardsBest Performer In A MusicalNominatedThe Prom[23]
2025San Diego Theater Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding Featured Performance in a MusicalNominatedRegency Girls[24]
2026Leonidas A. Nickole Award of DistinctionStandout PerformanceHonouredSeussical and Sweet Charity[25]

References

  1. "Janine LaManna". Wagner College. October 4, 2025.
  2. Who was Who on TV - Volume 3. Norman Chance. p. 464.
  3. Van Luling, Todd (2016-08-16). "My 20-Year Quest To Find Carmen Sandiego". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  4. "Who In the World Was Carmen Sandiego? We Finally Know the Answer". 18 August 2016.
  5. "Army Wife, Broadway star". The Fayetteville Observer. June 4, 2014.
  6. "The Great Wagner Way". Wagner Magazine. November 10, 2025.
  7. "From Broadway to Fort Bragg". The Fayetteville Observer. September 25, 2013.
  8. American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle - Page 844. Oxford University Press. p. 844.
  9. "Carmen Sandiego Finally Found After 20 Years". People Magazine. February 6, 2026.
  10. "Janine LaManna (visual voices guide)" (A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.). Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  11. "Voice of Siren - Samurai Jack | Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors (Check marks indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources). Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  12. "Interview: Janine LaManna of BLACK AND GOLD at The Green Room 42 June 10th". Broadway World. June 6, 2023.
  13. "Samurai Jack". Behind the Voice Actors. May 1, 2025. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  14. "EVITA: PMT PRODUCTION IS SHAPING UP TO BE THE LOCAL BLOCKBUSTER FOR 1993". Deseret News. April 25, 1993.
  15. "Harmony Starts Dec. 2 in Philadelphia, a Week Later Than Expected". Playbill. November 3, 2003.
  16. "LaManna and Schiappa Join North Shore Aida". Playbill. August 26, 2004.
  17. Gans, Andrew (August 7, 2019). "Jeremy Webb, Janine LaManna, Jennifer Cody Join SNL's Heidi Gardner in Noises Off at Cape Playhouse". Playbill. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  18. "West Milford native to star in 'The Prom' in White Plains". West Milford Messenger. October 4, 2022.
  19. "Janine LaManna to Make New York Solo Concert Debut With BLACK & GOLD at The Green Room 42". Broadway World. May 16, 2023.
  20. "In the new musical 'Regency Girls,' young women in trouble discover empowerment on a road trip". Los Angeles Times. April 14, 2025.
  21. "From Staten Island to San Diego: Wagner alums bring Regency Girls to life". Wagner College. August 8, 2025.
  22. "Winners Announced For 2019 BroadwayWorld Jackson, MS Awards". Broadway World. January 14, 2020.
  23. "BroadwayWorld Rockland / Westchester Awards; SEUSSICAL, POPCORN FALLS, Westchester Sandbox Theater & More Lead!". Broadway World. December 11, 2023.
  24. "San Diego theater critics announce 2025 Craig Noel Award nominees". San Diego Union-Tribune. January 1, 2026.
  25. "Janine LaManna". Emerson Stage. May 23, 2026.