The Secret Garden is Jeanne’s third collaboration with LA Theatre Works, following her 2021 courtroom drama For Us All, inspired by the 1990’s “coram nobis” case of Fred Korematsu, and her solo play Hold These Truths, inspired by the life of Gordon Hirabayashi (Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance, Theatre Bay Area Awards for Outstanding Production, Direction, and Performer, San Diego and Bay Area Critics’ Circle Awards, Outstanding Solo Performance), produced at Barrington Stage, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Pasadena Playhouse, Arena Stage, Guthrie Theater, ACT Seattle, Portland Center Stage, San Diego Repertory, Lyric Stage Company, Perseverance Theatre, PlayMakers Repertory Company, Honolulu Theatre for Youth (co-produced with Daniel Dae Kim), Epic Theatre Ensemble, East West Players, and more.
Called a “local treasure” by the Los Angeles Times, Jeanne most recently performed in Anna Deavere Smith’s Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 at Center Theatre Group’s Mark Taper Forum, the 2022 world premieres of Moisés Kaufman and Amanda Groenich’s Here There Are Blueberries with La Jolla Playhouse/Tectonic Theatre Project, and Carla Ching’s Revenge Porn at the Ammunition Theatre. Onscreen, Jeanne has enjoyed guest star/recurring roles on ABC-Shondaland's Station 19, CBS’ Magnum P.I., NCIS Hawai’i, NCIS Los Angeles, and Disney Plus’ High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, with her voice talents featured in Marvel/Hulu’s Hit Monkey, Apple TV’s Stillwater, Disney's Big Hero 6, and Nickolodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. She has also performed with such theatres as the Vineyard Theatre, People’s Light, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Public Theater, Lincoln Center Theater, Kennedy Center, Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, American Conservatory Theater, Northlight Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Berkeley Rep, A Contemporary Theatre, and Portland Center Stage.
Jeanne is currently working on a new play for Washington DC’s 2024 Ford Theatre Legacy Commissions program. Special honors: 2007 Theatre LA Ovation Award for Outstanding Lead Actress, Chay Yew’s Red, East West Players; 2019 Trailblazer Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement, East West Players; 2016 Lee Melville Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Los Angeles Theatre Community, Playwrights’ Arena; 2011 Outstanding Artist Award, Los Angeles’ Asian Pacific American Friends of Theatre. (jeannesakata.com, holdthesetruths.info)