LAPLACE — The two-night season premiere of Queen Sugar was the talk of the entertainment industry Tuesday and Wednesday, but those lucky enough to take in the LaPlace premiere have already seen the first three episodes.

The hour-long drama set in fictional Saint Josephine, La., chronicles the lives of estranged Bordelon siblings: Nova (Rutina Wesley of True Blood), Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner of Unforgettable) and Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe of Awkward).

The Bordelons navigate the triumphs and struggles of their complicated lives in order to run a struggling sugarcane farm that comes to their care after a family tragedy.

Acclaimed director Ava DuVernay, who directed the first two episodes, leads the project, which is produced for OWN by Warner Horizon Television. Oprah Winfrey is one of the executive producers. The series premiered this week and airs regularly at 9 p.m. Wednesdays on OWN.

Filmed largely in Southeast Louisiana, the show relies heavily on locations in St. John the Baptist and St. James parishes.

Local interests celebrated the series with a premiere party Tuesday night at Acadiana Cinemas’ LaPlace Cinema 5.

Jo Banner, River Parishes Tourist Commission film coordinator, said there was a great vibe at the theater after the first episode ended, with attendees excited to see the local area showcased through a quality show.

“We could really feel proud of this project,” Banner said. “This one was so personal to everyone that was there. We watched the second episode and had the third episode, which we weren’t supposed to watch, but were so excited so we ended up watching all three. We got out at 11:30 p.m., but it was that good.”

Banner said she knew the River Parishes would make a perfect home for production after first learning of the book, from which the series is inspired.

She wasn’t surprised last winter when the production company behind the show reached out about location scouting.

Filming began locally in March, and some of the local venues used in production include the Bacas House in Edgard; hospital, jail and solar building in LaPlace; and Felicity Plantation, St. Joseph Plantation, Science & Math Academy, B&C Seafood and St. Philip Catholic Church in Vacherie.

The inside of the Bacas House was recreated on a soundstage at St. John Civic Center in LaPlace, while a couple of scenes were filmed inside and outside of Accardo Law Firm.

Attorney Samuel Accardo Jr. said crewmembers were attracted to the front of his Belle Terre building because it fit their preferred architectural design.

The crew spent parts of March 24 through 29 gathering footage.

“I think it is great exposure for the culture and history we have in the area,” Accardo said this week. “It was a very professional crew. It was a positive experience. The process was very interesting, and they were a good bunch of people to work with. They came in respectful and didn’t really disturb our business.”

Banner said the production had an enormous economic impact on the area and created potential for more, while bringing attention to the sugarcane industry.

“We will have tours that will want to come here and know more about what is it like to farm sugarcane and these families because of this show,” she said.