The Birmingham Children’s Theatre will perform Beauty and the Beast at Clanton Elementary on Feb. 22.

The performance is funded by a grant from the Alabama Council on the Arts. CES was selected because it was one of the 45 schools that make up the council’s Rural School Touring Program.

“The Rural School Touring Program is an initiative by the council … to provide opportunities for rural schools to book a performance by an Alabama group or artist,” said Barbara Reed, Public Information Officer for Alabama’s Council on the Arts.

The free performances at the schools also include curriculum materials and study guides.

“The council’s goal is to provide opportunities for students to enjoy and learn through the arts,” said Reed. “Each school targeted has the same opportunity to bring in a live performance, but the free performances are on a first-come-serve-basis.”

“We strive to expose our children to as much fine art as we can,” said CES Principal Rebecca Threlkeld. “We have art and music classes [but] we don’t have a theatre class, so this is a chance for our children to see live theatre.

The performances will take place at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the school’s gymnasium and is only open to students.