While double casting a show is great protection against performance cancellations due to an actor contracting COVID-19, it does mean that reviewers can only see one cast perform. Such is the case with Contra Costa Musical Theatre’s production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” playing through Nov. 20 at El Campanil Theatre in Antioch.

While the cast I saw was marvelous, I’ve also heard the other cast is equally terrific, especially Rudy Brown as Mitch Mahoney, the tough-looking but tender-hearted assistant at the spelling bee. This show marks Brown’s return to the stage after a nine-year hiatus.

Other cast members I didn’t have a chance to review include Nico Jaochico, Benjamin Garcia, Kirsten Torkildson, Marissa Hinckley-Barnes, Jayson Vicente, Ronnie La and Genie Tjahjadi.

John Maio directs with Kerry Leyden as musical director and Justin Sabino creatively choreographing the prepubescent spellers. For tickets, go online to ccmt.org or elcampaniltheatre.com. El Campanil Theatre is at 602 W. Second St. in Antioch.

Pittsburg: Also closing Nov. 20 is Pittsburg Community Theatre’s “The Addams Family.” Based on characters created by cartoonist Charles Addams, the story tells of young Wednesday (Desiree Capote), who has fallen in love with a normal young man (Luke Cannon).

Her parents, Gomez (Phillip Leyva) and Morticia (Shelly McDowell), host a dinner for the boyfriend and his parents (Mark Flores and Jennifer Stark). Needless to say, things don’t go smoothly with Uncle Fester (Tony Gardner), Grandma (Kimberley E. James), Pugsley (Brian Doolittle) and Lurch (Thomas James) in attendance.

Dianna Schepers directs. The final performances are Nov. 18-20 at California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave. in Pittsburg. Go to PTCCA.org/Tickets or call 925-439-PLAY (7529) for tickets.

Walnut Creek: Get ready for a whimsical Christmas ballet when the brilliant dancers of San Francisco’s Smuin Contemporary Ballet perform Nov. 19-20 at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts. Along with a return to classic Michael Smuin pieces, the iconic ballet features spirited tap, jazz and folk dance numbers.

The performance also includes two world premieres: Nicole Haskins’ “Peaceful Prayer,” set to music created from a prayer for Ukraine, and a contemporary ballet from choreographer Amy Seiwert. For tickets, call 925-943-7469 or go to lesherartscenter.org.

Help wanted: Center Rep, the resident professional theater company of the Lesher Center announced open recruitment for an artistic director.

“Center REP’s artistic director will chart the course for the company’s evolution,” said Carolyn Jackson, the Lesher Center’s general manager. “We are seeking a collaborative leader with an established track record of creating excellent theatrical experiences and a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in our field.”

The DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland will manage the search, with Jackson serving as the search committee’s chair. Interested applicants should apply by Dec. 14 to be included in the first round of review. The full position description and application instructions can be found at lcarts.org/REP-Artistic-Director.

Oakland: The Oakland Theater Project’s world premiere of Lisa Ramirez’s “Book of Sand” continues through Dec. 4 at 1501 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Oakland.

Inspired by Jorge Luis Borges’ 1975 short story, it tells of a protagonist who receives a mysterious book with an infinite number of pages. As the protagonist reads, stories unfold in a magical dreamscape bringing up questions of existence, loss, longing and regret. Directed by Susannah Martin, the production features Kevin Rebultan and Carla Gallardo.

“We are thrilled to produce this extraordinary piece of magical realism,” said Michael Socrates Moran, the OTP’s co-artistic director. “This play not only uses realms of magical realism to allow us to traverse the labyrinthine questions of our time with levity, humor and grace, it is a stunning feat of theatrical imagination.”

For tickets call 510-646-1126 or go to oaklandtheaterproject.org.

Berkeley: Writer Dustin Chinn says he followed the journey of Vietnamese noodle soup in the creation of his biting comedy “Colonialism is Terrible, but Pho is Delicious,” playing through Dec. 4 at the Aurora Theater, 2081 Addison St. in Berkeley.

Beginning in 1880 in Hanoi where a Vietnamese cook finds herself cooking for aristocratic French settlers, the comedy spans centuries, continents and cultures. It finally ends in present-day Brooklyn, where an argument around culture, ownership and authenticity comes to a boil. Oanh Nguyen directs. For tickets, call 510-843-4822 or go to auroratheatre.org/pho.

San Francisco: If Shakespeare doesn’t come to mind when you think about the holidays, you might want to check out the new musical adaptation of “As You Like It” at San Francisco Playhouse running through Jan. 14.

Shaina Taub and Laurie Woolery have created a rollicking and poignant piece featuring an original folk-pop score. Don’t worry, it still follows Shakespeare’s tale of young lovers escaping to the Forest of Arden but creates a more dream-like atmosphere where all are welcome and the refugees find community and acceptance under the stars. Bill English directs with musical direction by Dave Dobrusky and choreography by Nicole Helfer.

The show takes place in the SF Playhouse at 450 Post St. in San Francisco. Call 415-677-9596 or go to sfplayhouse.org for tickets.

Sally Hogarty can be reached at sallyhogarty@gmail.com. Read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.