Holy Heart makes a beauty of a beast of a show

This year's musical production from students at Holy Heart High School in St. John's is the most expensive — and most ambitious — the school has taken on to date.

The story of Disney's Beauty and the Beast took the stage on Friday for the first time.

According to John Rao, the director of the show, the school is making good profit from ticket sales, offsetting production costs of $52,000.

A full house is expected for each show, and Grade 10 student and lead Emily McKim says she's not letting nerves get the best of her.

"I think that everyone is going to be amazed by the production quality and the talented cast, so I really think that we can pull it off and I think it's going to go really well," she said.

McKim, who plays Belle, said this is her first time landing a lead role, but she has big ambitions for a musical future.

"The goal is to probably do this professionally. This is what I aspire to do in life, and that would be really awesome to be able to do this for a living," she said.

Despite a few setbacks with a spring snow storm that cancelled the first matinée show for the school, the show must go on — Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in fact, at Holy Heart Theatre. 

According to the show's Facebook page, tickets are nearly sold out, but a few remain.