Sheaun McKinney on Summer’s Can’t-Miss Comedy ‘Vice Principals’ [Exclusive Interview]

Sheaun McKinney can credit his success to his mom and an earthquake. No, really.

I spoke with McKinney about his role in HBO’s upcoming comedy, Vice Principals, and what it’s like to go back to high school. Plus, I got to hear about the winding — and inspirational — path that brought him here.

Vice Principals is the latest comedy created by Danny McBride and Jody Hill. The show follows two Vice Principals, Neal Gamby and Lee Russell (McBride and Walter Goggins), as they fight dirty for the newly vacant position of Principal at their High School. The show will span two seasons; each covering a semester at the school.

According to McKinney, it’s the can’t-miss comedy of the summer.

“It’s a hell of a ride,” McKinney said.  “At some point in the show, you will find yourself rooting for all of these characters, and at some point everybody’s gonna go I cannot believe they just did that.”

Parts of the show were shot in a school in Charleston, SC. For McKinney, this brought back lots of memories. He even found a copy of his English textbook on set.

“I walked into one of the sets, and there was literally a book there that I had when I was in high school. I looked at the front cover and was like, Oh my God, I remember this book.”

The set reminded him of what it’s like in high school, and how even those of us out of school can relate.

“You realize watching this that you never really actually get out of high school. Everything we do now, today, has the same hierarchy and structure,” McKinney explained. “It’s the same thing every day.”

Interestingly, it’s an almost failed college class that got McKinney into acting in the first place. When he admitted to his mom that he was failing a humanities class and that the professor had offered extra credit for auditioning for a play, she didn’t give him much of a choice.

“My mom looked at me and went, your ass is auditioning.”

From there he “got the bug” and ended up getting a scholarship to study theater.

After college he helped start a theater company (which is still running today) and worked a variety of jobs; everything from Victoria’s Secret and armed security, to street improv. He even studied to become a police officer in Miami. He enjoyed acting, but wasn’t sold.

He lived in LA for a while, but ultimately moved back home. That is, until he was asked to fly back to audition for a show. He planned to only stay for a weekend, but fate intervened when he went to church with a friend.

He was struck by the fact that the guest speaker was from the Bahamas (where many of McKinney’s family is also from) and talked about Miami (where McKinney was born and raised). Oh, and that he repeated throughout his sermon, ‘it’s time for you to move.’

It was striking, but McKinney told himself that anyone can find connections to a sermon. The speaker closed by saying, ‘God is going to send an Earthquake to get rid of all your obstacles, but you have to act, and it’s time for you to move.’

The next part, McKinney swears is true.

“Later that night, as I was just sitting in my manager’s apartment the entire place starts to shake,” he recalled. “I’m sitting on the couch and the entire apartment is shaking.”

McKinney took it as a sign and stayed in LA for a few more months. “I’m a firm believer in my faith, and I believe that God has plans for me.”

Two months later, he got an audition for Vice Principals.

All of this experience has led him to be a better actor. His path has allowed him to hone his observation skills, which he believes are the key to the craft. “All that stuff… it makes you kind of fearless,” McKinney said.

“But it also broadens your horizons, because you become acutely aware that everybody has a different experience,” he continued. “Through it all, there’s something that I can connect to.”

In Vice Principals, McKinney plays Dayshaun, the head of the school’s cafeteria and Gamby’s closest friend on campus. Mckinney described Dayshaun as a level-headed confidant who gives sage advice to Gamby… even when he doesn’t agree with his actions.

“Dayshaun is a cool dude. He reminds me of cafeteria workers that worked the schools that I grew up around. There was always somebody at the school that you looked at that was kind of laid back and cool, and just gave you straightforward advice.”

As for the show, McKinney said, “It is going to be the funniest show of the summer, I can guarantee that.”

Check out Vice Principals on Sundays at 10:30 on HBO, beginning July 17th. And don’t be surprised when Sheaun McKinney steals the show!

 

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