"Parks and Recreation" Films in Orange

Students at Chapman University got a big surprise when the cast of “Parks and Recreation” showed up to film on their campus.  Actors also filmed in Old Towne Orange, sending passers-by and students rushing to take pictures and chat with the actors from their favorite show.

Scheduled to air on March 14^th, Old Towne will be playing the role of Partridge, a small town in the Midwest. Other Orange County areas that had been considered include Tustin and Santa Ana.

Executive producer Morgan Sackett explained, “We really liked the way Orange looked. There aren't many places in Southern California with town squares that can pass for a Midwest town.”

Chapman University’s Memorial Hall will serve as the fake city’s City Hall. Student Katie Metzger described the scene on Twitter, saying “Parks and Recs films in Orange; Chapman students turn into stalkers (including me).”

This is not the first time Old Towne has been used as a scenic backdrop; Tom Hanks used the area for his 1996 film “That Thing You Do”, in 2003 it appeared in the Ben Affleck/James Gandolfini movie “Surviving Christmas,” and the 2004 Katie Holmes film “First Daughter.”

Below are some of the scenes captured by the Orange County Register and I Heart Old Towne Orange:

Crew setting up in Old Towne Orange for an upcoming episode of "Parks
and Recreation" (image via I Heart Old Towne Orange)

Actors Amy Poehler and J.K. Simmons prepare for a scene
(image via I Heart Old Towne Orange)

Actor Adam Scott gets hair and make up checked before filming a scene
(image via Mackenzie Reiss/Orange County Register)

Testing sound and lighter before the actors take their place
(image via Mackenzie Reiss/Orange County Register)