MARTINS FERRY — Speiro Academy School of Ministry and Fine Arts will present a performance of “The Choice” at 7 p.m. Friday.

The presentation will take place at the outdoor theater in Martins Ferry City Park.

A total of 46 students from kindergarten through 12th grade will be taking the stage Friday night. Bear Cline, the campus pastor at Speiro Academy, said that both homeschoolers and in-person students will come together for the performance.

Cline said the students will have the opportunity to shine during both group and solo vocal performances. The featured soloist for Friday night’s performance is Natalie Pennington, who is in 10th grade.

“This is our first time doing a performance in the park like this,” Cline said.

Cline noted that the musical is a religious passion play about the last days of Jesus and his journey to the cross.

The drama also depicts ancient Rome during the rule of Tiberius Caesar and features a love story between a Roman centurion and a young Israelite woman. “The Choice” was originally written by Robert and Cindy Sterling in 1992.

Susan Cline, the principal at Speiro Academy, will be directing the performance.

Friday’s presentation will last approximately an hour and 10 minutes. The performance is free and open to the public.

Speiro Academy School of Ministry and Fine Arts is a small, nonprofit Christian school that teaches students from preschool to 12th grade. Speiro Academy first opened its doors in June 2001 in West Virginia. Speiro Academy purchased the North School building in Martins Ferry in 2011 and moved to this location, where it serves as both New Heart Covenant Christian Center and Speiro Academy. Visit Sperio Academy’s website or Facebook page for more information.