The classic hits of the '50s and '60s, like "Jailhouse Rock," "Love Potion #9" and "Stand by Me," have more in common than their music eras.

They were all written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the powerhouse songwriting team that composed tunes for Elvis Presley, The Drifters and The Coasters, among many others.

Sooner Theatre will commemorate Leiber's and Stoller's work in their presentation of "Smokey Joe's Cafe," a musical review that spans two decades in which pop-rock music and its performers rose to iconic popularity.

The show opens Friday.

"It's mainly a musical, but there are no spoken words," said Chris Holmes, stage manager and engineering graduate student. "But the interesting thing is that in each of the lyrics of each song tells a story."

'Smokey Joe's Cafe'

o Show times are 8 p.m. May 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13, and 2 p.m. May 7. at Sooner Theatre, 101 E. Main St.

o Tickets are $15 and $18 and can be purchased at Sooner Theatre or by phone at 321-9600.

o Group discounts are available.

Although the storyline and characters are the most important elements in a traditional play, the dominant aspect of "Smokey Joe's Cafe" is the atmosphere.

"It's like a trip down memory lane kind of thing," said director Lisa Fox. "It's nothing too heavy."

Because the main emphasis of the show is the music, the actors must look into the songs rather than a script to discover their character's motivations, said Brandon Adams, actor and liberal studies senior.

"It's more of a challenge. It's harder to develop a character without the dialogue," Adams said. "The character I'm playing is more of the 1950s crooner. So [I] have to look inside each song and say 'OK, who is he? What is his story?'"

Audience members can expect to feel a sense of familiarity with the show and the songs that the cast will perform.

Holmes said he has been at rehearsals from day one about a month and a half ago, and he still enjoys listening to the music and watching the choreography.

"They're such recognizable songs. It has a sing-along feel to it," Adams said.

There are easily 30 people working onstage and offstage to make this production possible, Holmes said.

"We have a live band that's going to be playing," Holmes said. "Nothing's recorded."

Most of the cast and crew are volunteers who work or go to school during the day and act, direct or help backstage in their free time.

"I think there has to be something innate or intrinsic that energizes you," Adams said of volunteering in theater productions. "If there wasn't the love to be onstage, it wouldn't be worth it. The time and energy that you put into this is extensive."

Adams said he hopes that the final outcome of the production will turn out as entertaining and put together as a professional show.

"I think it's going be a very professional-quality show because the talent is just enormous," Fox said.
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