Non-Competitive
Performing Arts Studio in Mount Pleasant, SC
We don't practice, we play
Don't miss a show (or a Camp spot)
Be the first in line when a camp registration opens, new shows are announced and special events go live.
Our Story
FAME Performing Arts was born from a simple belief: every child deserves a place to shine.
I spent my early career as the one who got the solo, the part everyone wanted, the spotlight.
Then an accident shattered my sternum — and with it, the thing that had given my life its purpose. I cycled through therapies and teachers, none of it working, until I did what performers do when the traditional path closes: I figured it out myself.
Slowly, painstakingly, I found my way back to my voice. Back to the stage. I performed Pamina in The Magic Flute in Germany. I made it back.
But the body has limits. And I had to choose what kind of life in the arts I actually wanted.
I started teaching as a way to heal from the loss. What I found surprised me. The satisfaction of standing in front of 3,000 people didn't compare to watching a child discover something in themselves they didn't know was there. Mentoring young students healed a part of me that performing never could. Teaching them that they were more than their craft. Walking them through vocal adolescence. Showing them that the field they loved was bigger than Broadway and more forgiving than Juilliard.
We won’t sell you a lie.
The performing arts industry has a business model that I refuse to be part of. Audition the students. Tell them to dream big, work hard, and reach for Broadway. Collect the tuition. What they don't tell you is that the system is designed for nearly all of them to fall short — and that the debt, the pressure, and the years of being ranked and sorted can do real damage to a student who was just trying to follow their dreams.
When COVID hit, I watched dozens of friends lose everything overnight. Theaters closed, organizations folded. They lost everything and had no direction. Some pursued more school and more debt. Others left the performing arts entirely. The industry that kept them entranced abandoned them.
Here's what we actually believe: you cannot look at a child and know what they're capable of. No audition has ever been able to measure that. What children need at this stage of their development isn't competition or pressure to persevere — it's space. Space to explore, to try things badly, to surprise themselves, to figure out what they actually have. That's how real ability gets discovered. Not by being sorted. By being given room to grow.
That's what FAME is. Not a stepping stone, not a factory for future performers. Just an honest place where kids get to find out what they're made of — without anyone pretending to already know the answer.
And when students do go on to scholarships, conservatories, or professional careers — and some do — it's because they found their footing here first. Not because we pushed them toward it. Because we gave them room to discover it themselves.
We DO Things Differently Here.
Not as a tagline, As a promise.
The performing arts world has spent a long time convincing parents that pressure, competition, and selectivity are signs of quality. We think that's wrong — and we've watched it do enough damage to enough kids to know we want no part of it.
At FAME, non-competitive isn't a marketing word. It's a decision we make every single day.
What that actually looks like:
- No auditions to join. Every child is welcome, exactly as they are.
- No competitions, no rankings, no comparison. Kids here are measured against one thing: who they were last month.
- No pressure to be perfect. Mistakes aren’t failures here- they’re the whole point of showing up.
- Real performances every semester. A real stage, a real audience, and a real moment that belongs entirely to your child.
What your child gains:
🎭 Confidence that comes from doing something hard and discovering they could.
💛 Belonging doesn’t have to be earned or maintained.
✨ Joy that makes them ask to come back - not because they have to, but because they want to.
🌱 Growth that’s personal. Progress that’s theirs.
"We believe in guiding students to discover confidence, their strengths, and comfort in their own skin. That's the magic of FAME."
Meet Jen Blanton,
Founder
Jen Blanton founded FAME Performing Arts because she couldn’t find what she was looking for anywhere else- so she built it. With over 20 years of teaching experience, she's guided hundreds of young performers to find their confidence and their voice.
Jen's teaching philosophy is simple: music and performing arts should be woven into everyday life—so practicing never feels like a chore. The goal isn't an obligation. It's wanting to play until you're proud.
Her students' achievements speak for themselves:
- 100% acceptance rate to Charleston County School of the Arts
- 100% acceptance to first or second-choice colleges
- 4 full-ride Bachelor of Music scholarships
- 1 Broadway performer (currently touring)
- Many doctors, teachers and business owners
- Countless others who took what they learned on stage into thriving careers and leaders in fields far beyond the arts
But ask Jen what she's most proud of, and she'll tell you about the quiet moments—the shy kid who finally raised their hand, the nervous performer who asked for a solo, the child who said "I can't" and then did.
Our Core Values
These five values guide everything we do at FAME:
Creativity for Everyone
Every child has a unique spark. We celebrate diverse expressions of art and embrace kids of all backgrounds and abilities.
Belonging First
Every child has a unique spark. We celebrate diverse expressions of art and embrace kids of all backgrounds and abilities.
Joyful Growth
Learning should be fun. We cultivate an engaging atmosphere where curiosity is celebrated, mistakes are part of the process, and every step forward is a reason to cheer.
Supportive Community
Together, we shine brighter. Kids learn from each other and build friendships that last beyond the stage.
Empowerment Through Expression
The arts are a powerful tool for self-discovery. We help children find their voice, tell their stories, and build confidence that extends far beyond the stage.
Our Team
FAME's dedicated instructors share Jen's passion for nurturing young performers. Every team member is committed to creating a supportive, joyful environment where kids can explore and grow.
Ms. Mary
Director of Programs
Keeps FAME running smoothly so our instructors can focus on what they do best: teaching
Ms. Ren
After School Teacher
Part teacher, part adventure coordinator, part fort-building expert. Mostly just someone who loves kids and shows up for them every day.
Ms. Kate
Assistant Troupe Director / Voice & Piano Teacher
Leads group voice and piano classes, music directs our productions, and brings energy to every lesson.
Mr. William
Guitar Teacher
Helps students find their sound, one chord and one song at a time.
Jenn Wiggin
WonderStage Co-Producer
Handles the behind-the-scenes support that keeps WonderStage funded and running.
Latanya Hardee
WonderStage Director of Operations
Keeps the day-to-day running smoothly so our creative team can stay focused on the stage, not the logistics.
Hallie Tepperman
Marketing and Outreach Coordinator
Connects FAME/WonderStage with the community and spreads the word, so more families find their way to us.
Bailey Mann
WonderStage Director
Shapes the artistic vision and guides rehearsals, turning hard work into unforgettable performances.
What Parents
Are Saying
Amanda B.
(Kids Troupe)
"FAME has been an incredible experience for my daughter. The program and all of the amazing staff have helped her to build her confidence, learn new skills, and be a part of a supportive community. FAME does a wonderful job of balancing FUN with learning, and helping students grow their skills in a low-pressure environment while building friendships.
They have fostered an extremely inclusive environment where every child feels welcomed, encouraged, and valued. We are grateful for the positive impact FAME has had on her and highly recommend it to other families!"
Heather S.
(Jr Troupe, Voice Lessons, and Summer Camp)
"Ms. Mary has been such an important part of my daughter AnnaGrace’s life over the years. She started in the program when she was around eight, and it’s been incredible to watch her confidence, creativity, and love for performing grow under Ms. Mary’s guidance. What really stands out is how genuinely invested Ms. Mary is in each child. She creates a space where kids feel safe to express themselves, take risks, and truly find their voice. AnnaGrace has not only developed her skills in drama, but she’s also grown personally in ways that go far beyond the stage. The summer camps and ongoing programs have always been something she looks forward to, and that says everything. We’re so grateful for the care, encouragement, and passion Ms. Mary brings to her work, it truly makes a lasting impact."
K. Dellinger
(Kids Troupe, Jr Troupe, Voice Class, Voice Lessons, and Summer Camp)
"Fame Performing Arts is one of my favorite local businesses in Mount Pleasant. As a Fame mom, I’ve gotten to see my 9yo daughter learn and grow and gain so much confidence over the last 3 seasons she’s participated in Kids Troupe.
I love the culture here, it is inclusive and welcoming and instills a love for performing in children. So much of school and extracurricular activities nowadays put so much stress and pressure on our children. It’s so refreshing to see my daughter able to just have fun, find her voice, move her body, and muster up the courage to be onstage in front of her peers and total strangers.
Even my older daughter who has traditionally done sports and shied away from theatre/dance signed up for Junior Troupe this fall and she’s loved it so far!
We love all of the teachers, our incredible director, Mary Freeman Mitchell, and consider ourselves SO lucky to have landed a coveted spot in Jen Blanton’s private voice lessons.
Our daughters have also participated in FAME’s summer camps, which were fun, enriching, and featured an adorable end of week performance.
Fame’s afterschool program is a huge asset to us Mount Pleasant parents with bussing straight to the studio from the local public schools. I’m immensely grateful to be part of this community and for my daughters to have this kind of program available to them here!!"