Donovan's career started before she graduated from college. During her senior year, she received her Equity Card standing by for Carolee Carmello in the Boston Company of "Nite Club Confidential" starring Scott Bakula. Shortly after graduation, she auditioned for the National Tour of "Les Miserables" through an "open call" and was cast as Cosette. She went on to originate that role in the Third National and San Francisco Companies and in 1990 reprised the role for her Broadway debut. In 1996 and most recently 2002, she returned to Broadway as Cosette's mother Fantine.