Joanne Laczko Masino '68
Joanne Laczko Masino '68 admits that her dancing partner is a bit of a dummy but tells us not to worry because Fred's feelings won't be hurt. Dubbed "The Entertainer" by the Brunswick Beacon she was recently named one of the county's Ten Most Interesting People. Masino captivates audiences by singing and dancing with her life-size companion, Fred.
His arms are not proportional to the rest of his body and his feet dangle limply because his toes never touch the ground. It's only when he dances with Masino that he comes to life; helped by her hands, feet and a first-rate impersonation of John Travolta. The twosome often perform at nursing homes and school events. "I actually got the idea of Fred while watching Dancing with the Stars," said Masino. "Dancing with a puppet is not an easy task because his arms aren't really proportional to his body and his feet dangle. However, his smile always seems to steal the show." In addition to dancing, Fred also sings a variety of oldies, which makes him popular with the adult crowd.
Masino admits that her husband Dale was a little apprehensive at first of her onstage endeavors. "I was worried that he might be embarrassed, but he has been fully supportive often joking that he is her other dummy," she said. After graduating from Ursuline with a degree in home economics, the entertainer became a teacher. Five years ago, the Cleveland native relocated to North Carolina. More recently, she has spent her time creating and bringing a variety of characters to life. "While growing up, I always enjoyed singing but I never thought I'd be dancing on stage with a puppet that is, quite frankly, very light on his feet."
