Orlando Sentinel

Epcot ends two longtime acts

Japanese drummers, British Revolution vocal quartet bowed out Sunday.

- By Dewayne Bevil

Two longtime musical acts at Epcot will no longer be performing at the theme park. Sunday was the final day for Matsuriza, the drummers in the Japan pavilion, and British Revolution, the vocal quartet in the United Kingdom pavilion, according to posts on their social media accounts. Their finales coincided with the last day of operation for all four Walt Disney World parks before a shutdown due to the spreading coronaviru­s epidemic.

Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be closed starting Monday. They are currently scheduled to remain out of operation through the end of the month.

The drummers had been at the park on the Pagoda stage for 25 years.

“Performing at the Japan Pavilion has been an honor, representi­ng our heritage and culture to millions of guests from all over the world. It really has been a dream come true and we’re very heartbroke­n to see it come to an end so suddenly.” Atsumi Foreman, one of the Matsuriz performers, wrote on Facebook late Saturday.

The British Revolution Fan Page on Facebook said the group had performed an estimated 11,000 times. Their repertoire has been varied but has leaned heavily on The Beatles fare.

“The greatest gift has been meeting you, your friends and families,” it read.

The post ended with a Beatles lyric from the “The End,” the last song recorded by the four members of The Beatles.

“And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”

Email me at dbevil@orlandosen­tinel.com. Want more theme park news? Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosen­tinel.com/newsletter­s or the Theme Park Rangers podcast at orlandosen­tinel.com/travel/attraction­s/ theme-park-rangers-podcast.

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 ?? JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL ?? Epcot’s Japan pavilion may be quieter even when the theme park reopens. The Matsuriza drumming act will not be returning.
JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL Epcot’s Japan pavilion may be quieter even when the theme park reopens. The Matsuriza drumming act will not be returning.

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