Janine LaManna (born June 14, 1966) is an American actress, singer, and vocal coach. She is best known for her extensive career in Broadway musicals, most notably originating the role of Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical, which earned her a Drama Desk Award nomination, and for being the first actress to portray the live-action character of Carmen Sandiego on the PBS children's television series Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?.
Early life and education She was born in Rochester, New York. She attended Wagner College in Staten Island, graduating with a degree in theater. She was later honored by the institution with the Wagner College Fellows Award in recognition of her professional achievements in the performing arts.
Career Theater LaManna began her professional stage career in the early 1990s. From 1994 to 1996, she served as an original standby for Chita Rivera in the Broadway production and subsequent national tour of Kiss of the Spider Woman. She followed this by joining the first national tour of Chicago, performing the role of Velma Kelly.
Throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, LaManna became a steady fixture on Broadway. Her notable credits during this period include playing Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime (1998–2000), appearing in the ensemble musical Swing! (1999–2001), and portraying Lois Lane/Bianca in the revival of Kiss Me, Kate.
In 2000, LaManna originated the role of Gertrude McFuzz in the Broadway musical Seussical. Her performance received critical praise and earned her a 2001 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. In 2003, she appeared in the short-lived musical revue The Look of Love, celebrating the songs of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Two years later, she originated the role of Nickie in the 2005 Broadway revival of Sweet Charity alongside Christina Applegate. In April 2007, she stepped into the principal role of Janet Van De Graaff in the Tony Award-winning musical The Drowsy Chaperone, playing the character until July of that year.
In addition to Broadway, LaManna has worked in regional and Off-Broadway theater. Her regional roles include Amneris in Aida at the North Shore Music Theatre, which earned her an Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) nomination. In 2023, she starred in the J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company's Off-Broadway revival of Woman of the Year and debuted a solo cabaret concert titled Black & Gold at The Green Room 42 in New York City. In 2025, she appeared as Lady Catherine and Madame Restell in Regency Girls at The Old Globe.
Television and film In 1996, LaManna was cast as the titular character in the PBS geography game show Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?, becoming the first live-action actress to portray the character on screen.
Her other television work includes a performance as Paquette in the New York Philharmonic's production of Candide, broadcast on PBS's Great Performances. She also provided the voice for the Sirens in an episode of the animated series Samurai Jack and made a guest appearance in the television drama Devious Maids. On film, she appeared in the 2002 romantic comedy Two Weeks Notice starring Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant.
LaManna has also performed as a concert soloist. In May 2007, she performed at the White House during a National Military Spouse Appreciation Day event.
Personal life She married Michael McDermott, a retired U.S. Army Major. The couple has two children, a daughter Mia McDermott and a son Liam McDermott. Because of her husband's military career, LaManna balanced her theatrical pursuits with relocations to various military bases, including residing near Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) in North Carolina. Outside of acting, she operates a private vocal coaching studio.
Filmography Television YearTitleRoleNotes1996 Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego? Carmen Sandiego PBS series2005 59th Tony Awards Herself TV special2005 Great Performances Paquette Episode: Leonard Bernstein's Candide, a Comic Operetta in Two Acts2015 Devious Maids Party Goer Episode: Awakenings2020 Wait in the Wings Gertrude McFuzz Episode: The Fall & Redemption of Seussical
Animation + List of voice performances in animation Year Title Role(s) Notes 2003 Samurai Jack The Siren Episode: The Scotsman Saves Jack: Part II
Web series YearTitleRoleNotes 2020 Stars in the House Janine Episode: Seussical Cast Reunion
Film YearTitleRoleNotes2002 Two Weeks Notice Elaine Cominsky2004 Flops 101: Lessons from the Biz Janine
Stage Theatre Year Title Role(s) Venue(s)Notes 1993 Evita Eva Perón Pittsburgh Musical Theater 1994 Kiss of the Spider Woman Spider Woman / Aurora Broadhurst Theatre 1997 Chicago Velma Kelly / June West End 1998 Ragtime Evelyn Nesbit Broadway 1999 Swing! Ms. Callaway & Ms. Benanti St. James Theatre 2000 Seussical Gertrude McFuzz Boston Tryout Drama Desk Award nomination 2001 Kiss Me, Kate Lois Lane / Bianca Victoria Palace Theatre 2003 Harmony Performer Forrest Theatre 2003 The Look of Love Performer Brooks Atkinson Theatre 2004 Candide Paquette Philharmonic concert 2004 Aida Amneris North Shore Music Theatre 2005 Sweet Charity Nickie Al Hirschfeld Theatre 2007 The Drowsy Chaperone Janet Van De Graaff West End production 2019 Noises Off Belinda Blair The Cape Playhouse 2022 The Prom Dee Dee Allen White Plains Performing Arts Center 2023 Black & Gold Performer The Green Room 42 2024 In the Spotlight Seussical 354 West 54th Street 2025 Regency Girls Lady Catherine & Madame Restell The Old Globe 2026 Oedipus! Jocasta 54 Below
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Result Title Ref. 2001 Drama Desk Awards Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Seussical 2002 44th Annual Grammy Awards Best Musical Show Album 2004 Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Outstanding Actress in a Musical Aida 2006 Wagner College Wagner College Fellows Awards For Professional Achievement 2019 BroadwayWorld Jackson Awards Best Lead Actress in a Musical The Sweet Potato Queens 2023 BroadwayWorld Regional Awards Best Performer In A Musical The Prom 2025 San Diego Theater Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical Regency Girls 2026 Leonidas A. Nickole Award of Distinction Standout Performance Seussical and Sweet Charity
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