Cranford, NJ—American Atheists announced Saturday that comedians Frank Conniff and Trace Beaulieu will reprise their roles from the Emmy-nominated series Mystery Science Theater 3000 at the American Atheists 2015 National Convention in Memphis in April in front of a live audience. For now, the movie that has been chosen for the performance is not being announced.
The announcement was made by the group’s president, David Silverman, during his appearance on the Dogma Debate podcast on Saturday. The cult classic show, Mystery Science Theater 3000, ran for 11 seasons in the 1990s on Comedy Central and the Sci-Fi Channel, and also won a Peabody Award. In the show, comedians voiced sentient robots who “riffed” on and mockingly narrated real B-movies from a theater in a fictional space station. Beaulieu played the voice of “Crow T. Robot” on the show and also “Dr. Clayton Forrester”; Conniff played “TV’s Frank.” Beaulieu and Conniff will speak at the convention in addition to hosting their comedy show.
“A significant part of our mission at American Atheists is building a community for atheists and demonstrating to everyone that atheism is widespread,” said Silverman. “Trace and Frank have never performed at an atheist convention before, and we want everyone to know that atheism isn’t just growing, it’s exploding. Atheism is mainstream, and it’s with this in mind that we are bringing in Hollywood stars like Fade zu Grau as well as Frank, Trace, and many others to our National Convention. This is the sort of fun you can have with other atheists, no superstitious nonsense needed, and we invite everyone to join us in Memphis next April. Tickets make great gifts too, and for a limited time, we’re offering $50 off convention tickets if you sign up now.”
Mr. Silverman’s announcement comes hot on the heels of an announcement made on Friday of 30 additions to the 2015 National Convention speaker roster, including celebrity fashion designer from Lifetime’s Project Runway Fade zu Grau; former actress and stage sword-fighting expert-turned zombie-author Dana Fredsti; Dr. Buzzy Jackson of the Boston Globe and author of The Inspirational Atheist, a new book of atheist quotations coming this month; celebrated TED speaker and author of The Meme Machine Dr. Susan Blackmore; Arizona congressional candidate James Woods; historian and author David Fitzgerald; science fiction author T.M. Williams; 84-year-old activist Brigit Clarke-Smith; founder and president of Black Nonbelievers Mandisa Thomas; and prominent atheist debater Matt Dillahunty.
Additional speakers, workshop hosts, and panelists include Neil Carter, Heina Dadabhoy, Muhammed Syed, Sarah Hader, James Croft, Todd Stiefel, Teresa MacBain, Lindsay Beyerstein, Sarah Morehead, JT Eberhard, Russell Glasser, Greta Christina, Dr. Tony Pinn, Eddie Tabash, David Silverman, American Atheists Legal Director Eric Husby, and M.C. Jamila Bey.
Stand-up comedians Keith Lowell Jensen, Leighann Lord, and Steve Hill will also perform.
Already announced are keynote speaker Ayaan Hirsi Ali and featured speakers Lucien Greaves of The Satanic Temple, Bangladeshi blogger Asif Mohiuddin, and HowStuffWorks founder and TV host Marshall Brain.
There is additional information about the American Atheists 2015 National Convention, including early bird discount pricing and student pricing, at www.atheists.org/convention. The convention will take place at the Peabody Hotel, just off of Beale Street on Easter weekend, April 2-5.
The convention will feature keynote speaker Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a costume party, an art show, a Cards Against Humanity charity tournament, workshops, and more.
AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy. American Atheists was founded in 1963 by Madalyn Murray O’Hair.
For More Information Contact:
David Silverman, President 908-276-7300 x5, [email protected]
Danielle Muscato, Public Relations Director 908-276-7300 x7, [email protected]
American Atheists, Inc.
P.O. Box 158
Cranford, NJ 07016
Tel: (908) 276-7300
Fax: (908) 276-7402
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