As a boy growing up in Berlin, young Hilby boasted no traumatic childhood experiences and exhibited no particular talents other than making funny faces at strangers and, as Hilby himself describes it, “breezing rhyzmically.” Hilby grew up doing all the fun things that people do when they’re not in school until they began to call him a grown-up. That’s when he packed up his old kit bag, gave his mom a big kiss on the cheek, and set out on a journey that was to lead him all over the world.

Hilby travelled across the European continent to Asia. One of the talents he learned along the way was juggling. From that day forward his social life took a distinct downward turn as countless weeks went by during which he wouldn’t listen to anybody but his own inner voice saying. Hilby perfected his art on the road–from his first performance on the famous Islamabad Friday Market to Lhasa, Tibet, from Calcutta to Bangkok, Pnom Penh to Hong Kong.

A six month stay in Japan with Buddhist monks and lots of chanting, as well as performing on weekends, polished what was already shining, and gave Hilby the confidence to perform his act in Japanese. He assumes his hosts understood what he said because they have invited him back every year since. Hilby is a truly international performer who is able to communicate through his humor with people of every nationality, size, shape and mental condition.

Hilby creates unforgettable moments for his audiences with such death-defying feats as The New Schrubber Schrubb Schrubb of Doom, in which he juggles an electric powered hedge trimmer, a bowling ball and a flaming beanie baby. Working in the tradition of the legendary silent vaudeville-inspired comedians such as Buster Keaton as well as the great mimes Marcel Marceau and Lecoq, Hilby presents a show without boundaries in which artistry and anarchy are blended into utter hilarity.

Morgantown’s High Street Jazz Band will swing into Marlinton on West Virginia Day to bring a little New Orleans flavor to Pocahontas County. Based in Morgantown, the High Street Jazz Band was established in the fall of 2010 in the hopes of bringing the enjoyment of New Orleans Jazz music to the city.

“The sounds of the High Street Jazz Band are offbeat,” writes West Virginia Living. “Solos are often improvised, and the group uses no sheet music when playing so they can make more eye contact with the audience. The band memorizes songs at practices, writing originals and playing covers like ‘When the Saints Go Marching In.’”

The band released its first album Undercover, in the spring of 2011. The main objective of the ensemble is to promote the welfare of the city of Morgantown and all its residents through public performance. This includes playing for various charity events, educational performances at schools around the state, as well as the band’s regular appearance on High Street every Friday night at 10 p.m.

Find the Opera House at www.pocahontasoperahouse.org