Daphne Rubin-Vega, known as Rent's original Mimi, will star alongside Paul Calderon, Gary Perez and Adriana Sevan in the New York City premiere of Cuban writer Nilo Cruz's Two Sisters and a Piano, beginning performances Feb. 1 at The Public Theater.

Loretta Greco directs Cruz's portrait of the personal and political in 1991 Cuba. As the Soviet Union begins to crumble, a romance writer, her sister and a pianist, prompted by world changes, speak out against Castro's regime and are arrested. The piece is inspired by a true story.

Official opening of the award-winning play is Feb. 15 at The Public's Shiva Theater, and performances continue to March 5.

Cruz previously saw his Dancing On Her Knees staged at The Public, in 1997. Two Sisters and a Piano received the Kennedy Center Award for New American Plays and the Barrie Stavis Award from the National Theatre Conference.

Greco directed a previous staging of Two Sisters at South Coast Repertory Theatre in Costa Mesa, CA. Calderon appeared in The Public's Dancing On Her Knees, Perez was in Cruz's A Park in Our House at New York Theatre Workshop, and Sevan played the same role (Maria Celia) in Two Sisters at South Coast Rep. Rubin-Vega was a Tony Award nominee for Rent and most recently appeared in New York in Gum for Women's Project and Productions.

Designers are Robert Brill (set), James Vermeulen (lighting), Alex Jaeger (costume) and Fabian Obispo (sound).

The Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival is located at 425 Lafayette St., in Manhattan.

Tickets are $45 and go on sale Jan. 21. Call (212) 239-6200 for information.

-- By Kenneth Jones