An understudy takes center stage — story of a Chita Rivera mistake

Yesterday, The Post ran an iconic photo of the original Broadway production of the musical “West Side Story” that appeared alongside an obituary of Chita Rivera, the theater legend who died Tuesday at 91.

But the dancer we pictured in a cropped version was not Rivera, in fact, but actress Liane Plane, another Shark girlfriend and Rivera’s understudy in the role of Anita.

It’s a common mistake, it turns out, that’s been made by major publications and photo agencies for decades.

Plane’s daughter Lisa Marooney told The Post that the recognizable snap has often been wrongly labeled since it first appeared in Life magazine in the late 1950s when “West Side” opened.

“The mix-up has been around for years,” Marooney said. “And it’s understandable considering Chita was the star and Liane was one of the Sharks’ girls and Chita’s understudy. But back in 1957, Life magazine picked the strongest image, and it had Liane out front.”

Plane, who died a month ago at 92 in Manhattan, adored being in the vibrant picture nonetheless.

“Liane always loved that the photo was so popular, regardless of how it was captioned,” said the eldest of her two daughters.

Like Rivera, Plane was a Broadway baby. Before “West Side,” she was a member of the original cast of another musical by Leonard Bernstein — “Candide” (1956). And in 1959, she appeared in “Redhead,” starring Gwen Verdon and directed by Bob Fosse.

Plane was also a soloist with the American Ballet Theatre and danced on 1960s TV programs such as “The Garry Moore Show.” She taught ballet in New York, at Broadway Dance Center and Finis Jhung’s studio, until she was 88.

When Plane’s granddaughter met Rivera, the actress said Plane was “always fabulous.”

Marooney described her mother as “never ever boring, a performer to the end and a passionate advocate for the arts and the people she loved.”

The Post regrets the error. And here presents the full, un-cropped picture — with Chita Rivera on the left and Liane Plane on the right, a fitting tribute to two Broadway dames.