San Francisco's gay-themed theatre, New Conservatory Theatre Center, will present the West Coast premiere of the other Siamese Twins musical, From the Hip: Siamese Twins Variations written by Blair Fell, with music and lyrics by Maggie Moore, playing Nov. 14-Jan. 16, 1999.

From the Hip premiered in New York the same season as Broadway's Side Show, and actually played more performances. Both shows base their musical tale on the true-life story of the Hilton Sisters, a set of Siamese twins who toured the vaudeville circuit. From the Hip comes from a different perspective than Side Show, capitalizing more on the humor inherent from the subject, rather than Side Show's romance-based melodrama.

Coincidentally, Side Show recently made it's West Coast debut at TheatreWorks of Palo Alto, California in October and closed earlier this month. While in smaller theatres for each run, From the Hip will also play more performances than Side Show in California.

From the Hip: Siamese Twin Variation plays at San Francisco's New Conservatory Theatre Center, Nov. 14 - Jan. 16, 1999. For tickets ($16 - $20), or more information, call (415) 861-8972.

-- By Sean McGrath