A sad story is told in a lively yet relatively tiny town in Starz’s inclusive television series “Hightown.” Monica Raymund portrays the show’s protagonist, a “hard-partying lesbian…who uses her gun and badge to seduce tourist chicks.”
But the Starz series lives up to its moniker in more ways than one, including the protagonist’s hard-partying lifestyle. Rather, the heroin epidemic in Cape Cod Bay, the setting of “Hightown,” is where the term comes from.
Jackie Quinones, the main character, is an officer in the Fisheries Service of the National Marines. Normally not too excited about her work, she becomes involved in a murder case after discovering a body in the Cape.
The “Hightown” location is a major component of the Star series, as was previously established. That is what establishes the show’s mood and contradictory vibe.
Provincetown, Massachusetts, serves as the primary setting for the story. In reality, because of its location, the show’s initial title was “P-Town.” This indicates yet again how essential the setting is to the performance.
Additionally, “Hightown” recreates Provincetown fairly accurately. Viewers may so naturally ask where the show was filmed. Was Provincetown used by the filmmakers for filming? Or did they pose as the New England town and go somewhere else?
Filming Locations
Provincetown, Massachusetts
First off, Provincetown was used for some of the filming of “Hightown,” though not entirely. A few key sequences were filmed for the show to create an impression of the town.
For example, Commercial Street was closed for a few hours during the filming of a carnival parade that prepares P-town for the production.
Filming took place in P-town for a week. According to people in the area, a few sequences had also been shot at MacMillan Pier and Provincetown Marina Pier. Plus, three days of filming were spent in and around the traffic circle at the Provincetown Inn.
At the beach close to the rotary, the lifeless body is visible. In addition, The Pilgrim Monument was included in multiple aerial shots that were filmed for the show’s establishing scenes.
Moreover, the Sagamore Bridge is shown throughout the opening titles. In addition to the 125 members of the production team, 300 additional locals were hired.
Freeport, New York
Princetown was not used for most of the filming of “Hightown.” Rather, the New England town was replaced with the Long Island, New York, village of Freeport.
Filming occurred in Freeport at Guy Lombardo Avenue, Church Street, Garfield Street, Johnson Place, Bagel Dock, and Freeport Auto Parts & Wrecking on Buffalo Avenue.
About The Show
With a murder investigation taking center stage, “Hightown,” which is set in the beautiful yet lonely Cape Cod, tracks one woman’s recovery path.
Hard-partying National Marine Fisheries Service agent Jackie Quiñones’s carefree existence is upended when she finds a body on the beach that appears to be another victim of Cape Cod’s drug crisis.
Jackie starts the sober journey as a way to cope with the trauma, but she doesn’t continue until she is certain that she must solve the murder.
Jackie begins to lose her mind and is now at odds with the tough but efficient Sergeant Ray Abruzzo of the Cape Cod Interagency Narcotics Unit.
She’s not alone either, as Ray violates numerous ethical standards for the sake of the inquiry. We’re reminded of how lethal and complex our addictions can be when the two of them and everyone else involved in the murder circle each other and their lives collide.
In “P-Town,” the gay hotspot of Provincetown, Massachusetts, Raymund plays Jackie, a lesbian agent for the National Marine Fisheries Services who is glad to use her gun and badge to pick up tourists.
Jackie’s rebellious and restless nature is well suited to her lifestyle of partying and girls. But Jackie can’t handle the situation when she discovers a body washed up on the beach with her typical snark and avoidance strategies. She grows more fixated on finding the murderer as she confronts her addicted tendencies.
Jackie is compelled to face the unpleasant aspects of the dreamy summer location, all the while endangering her recovery. At the moment, Ray Abruzzo is a sergeant in the Cape Cod Interagency Narcotics Unit and a member of the Massachusetts State Police.
Ray’s preference for informal over formal wear corresponds with his preference for working with informants in the field as opposed to desk work. His unreservedly demanding and impetuous nature often irritates others, which could potentially account for his solitary existence.
When it’s convenient for him, Ray follows the rules, but as soon as they get in the way, he forgets about them.
