Looking at Simon Rich you wouldn't believe he graduated from high school, let alone be almost 30 years old. But boyish charm aside, this guy has some serious talent. At the age of 23, Rich became one of the youngest writers for Saturday Night Live, and has been a frequent contributor to the New Yorker's "Shouts and Murmurs" column for years. Rich has also written five books — or "pamphlets," as he refers to them because of their short lengths — including "Ant Farm and other Desperate Situations," "Elliot Allagash," and his latest, "The Last Girlfriend on Earth." Rich claims to have been obsessed with writer Roald Dahl since he was 5 years old and attempts to rip him off as much as humanly possible. Rich writes with such upbeat and clever ambiance, you'll be making room on your bookcase next to Kurt Vonnegut in no time.
Rochester Arts & Lectures will host Simon Rich on Thursday, May 8, at the Downtown United Presbyterian Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh Street. 7:30 p.m. Standing room only tickets are $15 on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning at 6:45 p.m. For more information, visit Artsandlectures.org.