The real Coach Ken Carter will be the guest speaker Friday at the Newton Municipal High School Gym from 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m.

The public is invited to the event.

Carter was portrayed in the film “Coach Carter” by Samuel L. Jackson. Carter was the controversial high school basketball coach who benched his undefeated team in 1999 because of their bad grades in their California school.

You can get all the details in an article on today’s front page of The Meridian Star.



Upcoming project



Also, Samuel L. Jackson will be seen in a film called “Soul Men” due for release in November. The film is being re-edited now, to pay tribute to two of its stars who died over the weekend, Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes.

Hayes co-wrote the classic song “Soul Man.”

Directed by Malcolm Lee, the movie is about two soul-singing legends (played by Jackson and Mac) who agree to perform together after not speaking to each other for 20 years, in order to pay tribute to their deceased former band leader at the Apollo Theater.

Hayes plays himself in the movie. Some of the film was shot in Memphis, Tenn., in April.

The memorial service for Hayes has been set for Monday at Hope Presbyterian Church in Cordova, Tenn., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Hayes’ ‘‘Theme From Shaft’’ won both an Academy Award and a Grammy. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. He also provided the voice of Chef, the school cook, on the animated TV show ‘‘South Park.’’



Branching out



And, speaking of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it is branching out to New York.

The museum and hall of fame, which is in Cleveland, Ohio, is expected to open an annex in Manhattan with exhibits that will feature New York City-based sites of musical significance.

Wouldn’t that be something if they followed up with branches in Memphis, New Orleans, Detroit, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta … there’s no end to places of rock significance.



On stage in Meridian



Locally the Meridian Little Theatre is bringing a touch of New York our way for the 2008-2009 season with a bunch of Broadway favorites.

MLT is working on its season opener, “Annie,” now, which will be staged in October.

In December Meridian Mayor John Robert Smith will revive his role as Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol.”

MLT’s Youth Division will present “The Jungle Book” in January.

“Driving Miss Daisy” starring WTOK’s John Johnson is set for February.

And the big finish for the season in May will be “A Chorus Line.”