Janney made her professional stage debut in 1989 with an uncredited part in the Off-Broadway production "Ladies". Following minor roles in similar productions like; "Prescribed Laughter In The Emergency Café", "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress" and "Blue Window", Janney made her Broadway debut with the 1996 revival of Noël Coward's "Present Laughter". She played Liz Essendine, the estranged wife of the lead character (played by Frank Langella). Although a minor role, her performance garnered praise and attention with "The New York Times" calling it "The most fully accomplished performance on the stage". For her performance in the play, Janney won the Theatre World Award, Clarence Derwent Award for Most Promising Female, Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play and received a nomination for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play.