Farmington Second Grader Steals the Spotlight in “Abbott Elementary”
Farmington, MI – For most second graders, summer means time off from school, days filled with play, and family vacations. But for Seth Moore, a student at Farmington Public School’s Hillside Elementary, the summer of 2024 brought something far more exciting — a role on the hit sitcom “Abbott Elementary.”
Seth, a second grader from Novi, landed a supporting role on the widely-acclaimed mockumentary sitcom that has received numerous nominations for prestigious awards like the Emmys and Golden Globes. The much-anticipated Season 4, where Seth made his appearance, premiered on October 9 on ABC. In this season, Seth co-starred in a memorable role aptly titled “Toothless Kid.” Interestingly, this character ties directly into his own experience, as he recently lost a tooth over that very summer.
A Natural Star
Seth’s journey to “Abbott Elementary” wasn’t your typical summer break activity for most kids his age, but he has been nurturing his acting ambitions from a very young age. His mother, Lindsey Moore, a Restorative Practice Facilitator at Farmington Public Schools, discovered Seth’s unique talent when he was just a toddler. “When Seth was 3 years old, my mom was homeschooling him, and she pointed out how much detail he put into pretending,” Moore shared. “He would perform Michael Jackson impersonations and was very dedicated to getting every gesture just right.”
Fast forward to age 5, and her son boldly expressed a dream: “One day, he came to me and said, ‘I’m supposed to be on a stage with people clapping.’” From that point on, the family started to take Seth’s talents seriously. They enrolled him in acting classes and eventually signed him up with a talent agency.
From Auditions to Stardom
This past June, Seth participated in the International Presentation of Performers showcase, which caught the eyes of 19 agents and managers. After careful consideration, the 7-year-old signed with an agent who helped him navigate the auditions leading to his role on “Abbott Elementary.” Getting this role was no small feat; Seth’s summer was filled with acting workshops, auditions, and callbacks.
The audition process began with him recording a self-tape, a common practice in the entertainment industry. He was over the moon when, about two weeks later, he received the news. “I was shocked and excited to get the part. I wasn’t nervous at all when I found out, but I was a little nervous once I got to Warner Bros to shoot,” he said. To ease his nerves, he would dance before stepping on set, ensuring he felt relaxed when it was time to act.
Lights, Camera, Action!
One week before filming, Seth sent his clothing and shoe sizes to the show’s wardrobe department so that his costume would be ready for the shoot. Once it was time to film, he had a 30-minute rehearsal with the cast. After being mic’d up, he was official and ready to go! However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. “It took about 20 tries to get it just right. I had to say the line ‘My tooth came out in this nugget,’ and I kept messing it up,” Seth recalled, laughing. “I was saying things like, ‘my teeth, my tath, toth,’ and it made everyone laugh.”
Interestingly, Seth’s real-life experience of losing a tooth right before filming played right into his role. “My tooth came out in real life earlier in the summer, and my character was about a lost tooth at school, so I remembered how I felt when I lost mine,” he shared.
A Star-Studded Experience
To make it even more thrilling, Seth got to work alongside the show’s star-studded cast, including Quinta Brunson, the creator and leading star of “Abbott Elementary.” “I kept saying to myself, ‘I love this,’” Seth beamed, relishing the experience.
It seems his friends from school were just as excited about their classmate’s big break. “My friends were shocked and happy,” Seth reported. “Some of them didn’t believe me at first, but they do now!”
The Road Ahead
With “Abbott Elementary” under his belt, it seems that Seth’s acting career is only just getting started. According to his mom, “He has a big audition for Disney coming up soon.” She adds that the family is excited about what the future holds but is also taking things one step at a time. And Seth? He’s eager for the next gig. “The goal of actors is always to get bookings, and this has always been Seth’s dream. He is excited to see what’s next!”
