How to Get Cast on ‘Abbott Elementary’

Filmed mockumentary style in the vein of “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation,” “Abbott Elementary” follows Janine Teagues (Brunson) and her fellow teachers at the titular West Philly school. The group perseveres past roadblocks ranging from a tone-deaf principal to severe underfunding, making it their mission to better their students’ lives. “Abbott Elementary” isn’t afraid to shine a harsh fluorescent light on the struggles real-life teachers face every day, tackling these issues with the care (and comedy) they deserve.

While Season 1 focused solely on the teachers’ lives within the confines of the school walls, Season 2 of “Abbott Elementary” offered viewers a deeper look into the personal lives of these dedicated educators—because even the meanest of teachers still has a personal life! For Season 3, Brunson promised that the show would “take some big swings” to ensure “people [don’t] get too comfortable,” she told Entertainment Tonight—and thanks to Janine and fellow educator Gregory Eddie’s (Tyler James Williams) growing attraction, she delivered. (But we won’t spoil the details.)

Season 4 saw the construction of a nearby golf club, which ultimately upended the status quo, as the teachers (thanks to a bit of blackmail) tried to ensure the school profited from the build. And while in Miami for a conference at the end of Season 5, the teachers learn the district plans to shut down 20 schools. While Abbott Elementary is ultimately spared, Season 6 will see the crew deal with a likely influx of students from the schools that are no longer operational.

“Abbott Elementary” features an array of comedic talents, including:

• Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues
• Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie
• Janelle James as Ava Coleman
• Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa Schemmenti
• Chris Perfetti as Jacob Hill
• Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard
• William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson

The show has also welcomed some stellar guest stars, including Lana Condor, Kevin Hart, Tatyana Ali, Keegan-Michael Key, Questlove, Taraji P. Henson, Ayo Edebiri, and Leslie Odom Jr.

On Season 4, the team also welcomed the cast of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” for a crossover event that spanned both Philly-based series. The “Abbott Elementary” episode aired in January 2025 and focused on the teachers’ perspective; the “It’s Always Sunny” episode kicked off its 17th season in July 2025 and offered a raunchier take on the characters’ interactions. Perhaps more crossovers will be in the show’s future!

Wendy O’Brien and Chris Gehrt of Wendy O’Brien Casting are the primary CDs for “Abbott Elementary.” Their previous credits include “Sons of Anarchy,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” and “Teen Wolf.”

Like most casting directors, O’Brien doesn’t want the audition process to be intimidating. Instead, when you’re in her audition room, she hopes you’ll feel comfortable and free. “I hope that [actors see] that it’s a very safe space. It’s a very safe space to try something, to explore, to be yourself. That’s our No. 1 goal of what we try and provide. I think it’s important to help them come in, be comfortable, and do the best work they can. It’s also self-serving. The better they do, the sooner we’re going to find [the person for] the role.”

When it came to casting the series, Brunson didn’t seek out big-name stars. “I believe it’s part of the fabric of a sitcom to introduce you to new people,” the creator and star explained to Vulture. “What helps make a show successful is when you have people you can fall in love with—actors people have never seen before.” So she and O’Brien focused on finding performers who would bring a true Philadelphia feel to the project—“not prettified or too Hollywood,” the CD told us.

Because of the show’s mockumentary style, O’Brien sought people who could handle a subtle brand of comedy. “It’s a muscle that you don’t know you have until you really try it. I think it was surprising to a lot of actors, too,” she said. “Some people didn’t end up taping because they were like, ‘I just can’t figure out those beats.’ It didn’t mean you weren’t a good actor; you just couldn’t find that piece. There was no ingredient that we knew to look for. We just had to try.

“Quinta had a very strong but flexible vision,” O’Brien continued. “When she sent me her shortlist of who she imagined, Sheryl [Lee Ralph] was on there for Barbara, and Tyler [James Williams] was on there [for Gregory]. That was who she had in mind, and then the rest we found.” She noted, “I think she knew what the ingredients needed to be, but how the cake looked was very flexible. Janelle [James, who plays Ava,] is a perfect example. She was effortless. We looked at so many actors and she just had it as soon as the scene started. She was the role, and then the role became her. She expanded it. It just went hand-in-hand, writing for her and her voice.”

But as O’Brien told Awards Radar, immediately identifying the perfect actor for a role remains incredibly rare. “Usually, I’m confident about an actor’s fit based on their previous work or other aspects they bring to the role. The process is highly collaborative. But in Janelle’s case, this kind of instant connection is rare, it simply snapped into place,” O’Brien noted. “Her tone, delivery, comedic timing, and laughter, everything about her was spot-on. I can’t picture anyone else in that role.”

Casting children, however, takes a bit more effort. O’Brien told Deadline she typically auditions 25–30 kids for a single role, bringing them in to read for one part and continuing to read them for others until she finds just the right fit. “Some kids are a little more outgoing and some…are shyer, how they present on camera, but still just as talented,” she explained. “So we try and keep a tally of what kids were maybe not right for that specific role, and we’ll reread them down the road.” Those who seem “most natural and kid-like,” she continued, are “the ones that are doing the weirdest things, but it feels just organically honest, and not rehearsed or coached. So I think that’s our biggest weeding tool, is just who’s natural and happy to be there.”

“Abbott Elementary” has entered its preproduction phase, with filming set to begin in Los Angeles in August 2026 ahead of the series’ sixth season premiere this fall.

But what’s the likelihood that “Abbott Elementary” Season 6 will be its last? While we can’t confirm what’s ahead, Brunson expressed that she’s at least considering how she’ll wrap the show for good. “We are so fortunate and blessed to be on a network TV show for five seasons, and for people to still be fans,” she told Bustle. “That being said, I have cast members who would love to pursue other projects, and our show is very time-consuming. We shoot about seven months out of the year. That can stop people from being able to do a lot of other things.”

Work on your craft: Both Brunson and O’Brien have emphasized that, whether you are actively working or not, you should always be honing your talents. “Pay attention to craft. There’s a lot of shit out there on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube—quick ways to the top. But a healthy knowledge of the craft you’re pursuing is so valuable, even if you’re super talented,” Brunson advised. “You can be so talented, but knowing the history of the thing—going back and studying Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin and following every avenue of comedy—is so helpful in making work that will last.”

“Just because you’re not shooting a role, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be training. And that doesn’t mean spending money to go to a class if you don’t have those means. It can be running the scenes. It’s staying in shape,” O’Brien echoed. “An athlete can’t race without doing their training. You can’t expect your body to perform. So I think it’s the same, to be ready when you do get that call for an audition and you have that day on set. That you’re actually ready and prepared, because it’s an ongoing preparation.”

Be authentic: O’Brien encourages actors to bring “their own take” on a character into their audition. “It may not be right for that role, but you get a sense of who that person is or what’s unique about them and it sets them apart from everyone else,” she said. “And not making the choice for the sake of being different, but making a choice that feels really right for who you are, not what you think we want to see. Sometimes those are the most interesting auditions. Sometimes writers completely will change a role because they’re just so inspired by a choice. That’s the best part of our job. Why does it have to be 10 40-year-old white guys? It doesn’t. Why is this written as a man? Why is this written as an able-bodied human? Does it have to be? Maybe not. And I think that’s one of the great gifts of what we do.”

James, who originally built a following online, noted that authenticity remains key to establishing a fanbase that’s loyal to you no matter what jobs come your way. “Your fanbase is your bread and butter. No matter what happens with acting, the fans who follow me because of comedy, or because of acting, those are the people that will be with me forever. I’m just trying to build an organic fanbase,” James told Forbes. “A lot of the people who follow me have been following me since I started standup. If you want to be a social media figure, the numbers are important. If you want to have a fanbase that follows you for the rest of your career, then you want to represent yourself authentically.”

Freak out: While Perfetti admits the time following drama school graduation was “harrowing for so many reasons,” he’s grateful for all that period taught him. “I wish I could go back and tell myself to not freak out as much. But then I almost want to not say that, because freaking out is what makes you a good actor. If you dull your sensitivity to the world, then you dull your sensitivity to this art form,” he told us. “I would tell myself that the things that feel like they are not serving you immediately are going to come for you later on. The beautiful thing about this business is I have not felt a greater high and a lower low. It has the opportunity to absolutely soar or sink you. The advice I would give is to prioritize learning how to manage that feeling—because if you can do that, you can truly do anything.”

Don’t overthink your audition: While nerves are sure to build, O’Brien doesn’t want actors to come into the room with any doubts. “You might not think you’re right for the role. And this has happened so many times where an agent doesn’t think they’re right,” she said. “I’m like, I get they’re not what’s written on the page, but trust me, and just have them come in. And I would say 50% of the time, they get the role. They’re my wild card. Just come in. Don’t worry about it. You’re the wild card. It doesn’t make sense to them. Trust me. And a lot of times it works out really well. Do not overthink your invitation. Usually, there’s a very good reason. It’s our job to open the door, and it’s the actor’s to want to walk through it. So just because we provide an audition, it also doesn’t mean that they have to come in or they’re obligated to come in. They can have a sense of what’s right for them.

“On one level, if it’s because they just don’t like the roles, they should never worry about that. That’s their choice,” O’Brien continued. “But if it’s because they just don’t think they’re right for it or that they’re creatively not sure, that’s where I think they need to trust. Sometimes you’re just waiting for the right role. Sometimes it takes a really long time to find that right role. But then when it happens, it’s pretty magical.”

Embrace your true passion: As Davis noted, he doesn’t teach—he shares. So when he helps the next generation, he imparts crucial wisdom for those who are just starting out. “To be honest, I don’t think of what I do as teaching. What I do is share—share what has been shared with me…. When I work with young actors, I share that this has to be a 360-degree, 24/7 commitment,” he explained. “I once heard that being an actor is like being a whole other species of people, and I’ve borrowed that because it’s true. If you’re an actor, everything has to be about your craft. All your civilian decisions—going to the gym, finding a job, going to bed early, or staying out late—should be in service of the work.

“I’ve often told aspiring actors: If you can imagine doing something else, you should do that instead. It can be cruel sometimes. You might not work for 10 years,” he added. “Those hard days—some when you can only afford Top Ramen—if you stick with it, they make you stronger and more committed. But you have to love it enough to survive that.”