TheatreWorks of Palo Alto, CA, is presenting the West Coast premiere of the Henry Krieger/Bill Russell musical about Siamese twins in vaudeville, Side Show , beginning previews Oct. 21, for an Oct. 24 - Nov. 8 run.

Side Show , nominated for four Tony Awards including Best Musical, is based on the true story of Daisy and Violet Hilton, Siamese twins who rose from from a sideshow attraction to become a singing and dancing vaudeville act in the 1930's.

Robert Kelley directs the regional premiere, with Bick Goss listed as choreographer. Deborah Wiseman (Violet) and Kristin Behrendt (Daisy) star in the musical.

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Other shows in TheatreWorks Season include:
Present Laughter - (Dec. 2-Jan. 3, 1999; opens Dec. 5) - Seen on Broadway two seasons ago with Frank Langella, this 1939 Noel Coward follows the narcissism and sexual proclivities of an aging but still grand actor. Tom Lindblade directs. Amadeus - (Jan. 20-Feb. 7, 1999, opens Jan. 23) - 1981's Tony winning best play, by the author of Lettice and Lovage and The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Peter Shaffer. The story pits jealous Salieri against wanton genius, Mozart, played by Francis Jue.

Psychopathia Sexualis - (March 10-April 11, 1999; opens March 13) - A zany comedy from John Patrick Shanley that pits a neurotic groom against the psychiatrist who withholds his beloved argyle socks. Amy Gonzalez directs this piece from the author of Missing/Kissing and Danny and the Deep Blue Sea.

The Joy Luck Club - (April 14-May 2, 1999, opens April 17) - Susan Kim adapts Amy Tan's novel about several generations of Chinese women - and the mother/daughter conflicts that ensue.

TheatreWorks' production of Side Show plays at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts (1305 Middlefield Rd.) , beginning previews Oct. 21,with an official opening Oct. 24 for a run through Nov. 8. For tickets and memberships to TheatreWorks shows call (650) 463-1960.

-- By Sean McGrath and David Lefkowitz