Philly To Give Quinta Brunson Keys To The City

Quinta Brunson set her hit show Abbott Elementary in Philadelphia, based on her mother’s four-decade career as a teacher. Now, the city is honoring her with a key ceremony and a mural on her elementary school.

Brunso will receive the keys to the city in a May 28 ceremony, which Philadelphia’s first female mayor, Cherelle Parker, will oversee.

“I am so grateful to be receiving the key to my hometown, Philly,” Brunson said in a statement. “This city shaped me, and now I get to give back with a mural that celebrates all it gave me. I am truly honored.”

Abbott Elementary was renewed for its fifth season in January. The show has enjoyed critical acclaim for Brunson, who won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series in 2022 and for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2023. She was the first Black woman to win in that category in four decades.

The sitcom’s cast includes Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris), veteran actress Sheryl Lee Ralph (who won her first Emmy as Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role in 2022), Janelle James, and Lisa Ann Walter. It takes place in a fictional elementary school in West Philadelphia starring Brunson as idealistic teacher Jeanine Teagues, who despite funding woes and the incompetence of principal Ava Coleman (played by James) is trying to do the best for her students.

Philadelphia’s Mural Arts program has given the city the distinction of having the most public art in the world. They collaborated with the Greater Philadelphia Film Office to put the event together. The new mural on West Philly’s Alexander Hamilton School is called “Blooming Futures,” honoring Brunson and the school’s manifesto of upholding rigorous learning standards for student development.

“The City of Philadelphia is beyond grateful to have someone as inspiring and compassionate as Quinta Brunson,” Parker said. “She doesn’t just represent the spirit of Philadelphia on television; she brings her success home and shares it with the city that loves her back. It goes without saying that education and representation matter.

She added, “As our young people look for role models, may they find inspiration in dream chasers and change makers like Quinta Brunson. And let us never forget the impact of a great teacher, who shows up every day to uplift, encourage, and fight for the future of our youth.”

As for the show, all the prominent cast members are likely to return, along with some newer ones, including Orlando Jones, who plays William’s character’s father, and Matthew Law, who appeared in Season 4 as Ava’s love interest.

Abbott Elementary airs live on ABC on Wednesdays at 8:30 ET, and can also be seen on Hulu and other streaming platforms that support live TV.