By Neil Armstrong
In highschool in Barrie, Ontario, Alinka Angelova, was by no means taught something about Black Historical past in Canada. She had little interest in historical past till an organization approached her in 2019 to write down one thing concerning the Oro African Methodist Episcopal Church, a delegated nationwide historic web site.
She knew nothing concerning the neighborhood of African Canadians who constructed it between 1846 and 1849. However when her husband informed her that it was the final cease for the Underground Railroad, that lit a spark.
“I by no means thought I might ever write something about historical past. It appeared a darkish time for me whenever you discuss slavery.”
As somebody who often writes about issues uplifting, she determined so as to add an inspirational ingredient to her script of “Misplaced Heroes of Oro,” which can be featured on the historic Elgin Theatre in Toronto from February 6-8.
The founder, author and director of Infinity Arts Productions needs to coach college students in Barrie concerning the church and the function that Richard Pierpoint, an enslaved African who grew to become an early chief in Canada’s Black neighborhood, performed alongside the Colored Corps to construct it.
“That’s why the Black neighborhood was capable of construct up then; he was a giant a part of it and that’s what I discovered about his ardour. He let nothing cease him and saved going with the petitions,” she mentioned, noting that the previous member of the Loyalist militia, neighborhood chief and storyteller petitioned for an all-Black unit to battle for the British within the Warfare of 1812, and fought with the Colored Corps, a militia of free Black males.
The musical that was alleged to be concerning the church changed into a manufacturing concerning the journey of Pierpoint.
“I made it a manner that others can really feel that it was linked to them as a result of it’s their historical past, whether or not they’re Black or white or wherever they’re from.”
‘Misplaced Heroes of Oro’ has been operating for over a 12 months and Angelova continues to tweak points of it. She plans to take action even when it will get to Broadway which is her mission.
The author cherished Pierpoint’s willpower to create change and “battle for us” particularly contemplating that he was taken from his residence when he was a youngster and constructed himself up. She mentioned even when he got here to Canada with no household, he nonetheless went from neighborhood to neighborhood telling tales.
Angelova mentioned she writes on a regular basis and wanted to department out past her area people, so she opted for an even bigger venue in Toronto. Initially, she approached Mirvish Productions, however they solely do long-running exhibits and advisable the Elgin Theatre as an area commensurate to theirs.
“I see myself in him [Richard Pierpoint], nothing stops me so I’ll take any dangers as a result of to me it’s like what do I’ve to lose. My work is greater than simply cash so there’s numerous insightful stuff in my work that should get on the market.”
One of many songs within the present was written by her brothers, Robert and Jerome, — a tune she first carried out when she was 12 years outdated, that has now discovered a house within the musical.
Her niece is among the many solid of 27; initially the manufacturing had 12 and the quantity subsequently grew to 17. ‘Misplaced Heroes of Oro’ fuses tune, drama and dance that connects the inspiring story of Pierpoint with the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Oro-Medonte.
Angelova is utilizing her vlog, “My Journey to Broadway,” to doc the course she is taking to get to Broadway. “Each time I see individuals’s journey of how they get there, it’s at all times after they’re already there and so they inform the story. However I wished to inform the story as I’m going there simply to indicate that I’m really going to make it and so they’re following me.”
The author and director was born in Canada to Jamaican dad and mom, now deceased; her father was from St. Elizabeth and her mom, Spanish City.
When she produced the present in 2022, the Simcoe County District College Board was and in February 2024 she offered it once more in Barrie. She mentioned the varsity board needs to make it a yearly obligatory present.
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