Minnesota Atheists Meetup Group

Theatre in the Round Players (TRP)
245 Cedar Ave S
Minneapolis MN 55454

"The Hobbit"
Based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien
Adapted by Greg Banks

Join us for the final dress rehearsal of "The Hobbit". The cost is $5.00 at the door. Cash preferred. NO LATE SEATING.

Play Description:
Join a band of storytellers in the not-so-distant-future, as they tell the story of Bilbo Baggins in this inventive adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic tale. Our storytellers follow Bilbo on a journey beyond the borders of the familiar, as he is swept into a quest with Gandalf and a band of determined dwarves, facing trolls, goblins, riddles, and a dragon named Smaug — with bravery he never knew he had. Told with an ensemble of actors, imaginative staging, and boundless heart, The Hobbit explores how stories bring us courage in the darkest times and reminds us that even the smallest person can change the course of the future.

There is also a Pay-What-You-Can performance on Monday, May 18, 2026, 7:30 pm

PARKING:
1. Parking is NOT free at parking meters in the evening, but it is not expensive. About $5.
2. You can also park nearby in the ramp of the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 1500 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55454. Remember your license plate and when you are leaving the theater there is a QR code you can scan with your smart phone and only pay $5.50. (Four hour limit at this discounted price.)

There is always a small chance that a performance might be cancelled at the last minute, so call TRP that afternoon to check 612-333-3010, and also check Meetup messages for this event.

Please help support Minnesota Atheists by becoming a member or by making a donation.

Join us online Sunday May 10th at 2 p.m. to discuss The Wisdom of Plagues by Donald McNeil.

The Wisdom of Plagues is Donald McNeil’s account of what he learned over a quarter-century of reporting in over sixty countries. Many science reporters understand the basics of diseases—how a virus works, for example, or what goes into making a vaccine. But very few understand the psychology of how small outbreaks turn into pandemics, why people refuse to believe they’re at risk, or why they reject protective measures like quarantine or vaccines. The COVID-19 pandemic was the story McNeil had trained his whole life to cover. His expertise and breadth of sources let him make many accurate predictions in 2020 about the course that a deadly new virus would take and how different countries would respond.

By the time McNeil wrote his last New York Times stories, he had not lost his compassion—but he had grown far more stone-hearted about how governments should react. He had witnessed enough disasters and read enough history to realize that while every epidemic is different, failure was the one constant. Small case-clusters ballooned into catastrophe because weak leaders became mired in denial. Citizens refused to make even minor sacrifices for the common good. They were encouraged in that by money-hungry entrepreneurs and power-hungry populists. Science was ignored, obvious truths were denied, and the innocent too often died. In The Wisdom of Plagues, McNeil offers tough, prescriptive advice on what we can do to improve global health and be better prepared for the inevitable next pandemic.

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Our book for June is That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America by Amanda Jones

Tentative future books:
Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization by Neil deGrasse Tyson
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

If you are interested in any of these titles, or have other book suggestions, please message me or leave a comment below.

Please note: The link for joining the meeting is only visible to those on the attending list. If you are on the wait list you will not see the link unless a spot opens up and you are moved to attending.