A production of the stage version of "Hairspray" couldn't be more timely.

Taryn Gilbert says her family's Sing For America (SFA) production of "Hairspray" wasn't planned that way.

"It just happened to fall at a time when all these things were going on. We had decided to do this show last year. It just happened to be perfect timing," Gilbert says.

SFA presents "Hairspray," 7:30 p.m. July 8 - 11; 10 a.m. July 9 and 10, and 2 p.m. July 11 and 12, Diamond Theater, Lehigh University Zoellner Arts Center, 420 E. Packer Avenue, Bethlehem.

The Broadway musical, opening in 2002 and receiving eight Tony Awards (including Best Musical) of 13 nominations, is based on John Waters' written and directed 1988 film (lensed partly at Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, South Whitehall Township).

The comedy is about the attempt to integrate a teen TV dance show in Baltimore in 1962. The stage version became a 2007 movie musical starring John Travolta as Edna Turnblad (a role first played by Waters' pal Divine).

"The show holds a special place in our hearts. It was the very first Broadway show we saw," says Gilbert of her family, which includes siblings, Tasia, Teara, Jewel and Jorne, and parents, Gina and Bruce.

"Ever since we started our production company, we knew we'd put on this show. We didn't know when," Gilbert says.

SFA bills its "Hairspray" production as "color blind."

An SFA press release emphasizes the theater troupe is "an organization striving to bring Light and Truth to entertainment while raising funds for military families."

States the press release about "Hairspray": "SFA will present this fun-loving, free-wheeling, high-energy Broadway production which addresses the Civil Rights upheaval of the 1960s; the prejudice and struggle so real to our history.

"These old scars are being opened all around us today and this show seeks to heal those wounds. Uniquely cast color blind, we will reveal a world on stage where we see people as people and not labels, so we can live that truth even after the curtain is closed.

"We are confident and proud to present this as the most ethnically, culturally, socioeconomically and eclectic cast to ever take the stage in the Lehigh Valley. We are extremely excited to show you a cast that has united as one to challenge you to look beyond color for two and a half hours and live beyond color past the applause," the press release states.

Says Gilbert of SFA's "Hairspray" casting: "Everyone is all mixed up. We have Hispanic people in some of the roles on the black and the white side. We have black people on the white side and black people on the white side. Everyone was chosen on their talents.

"We want to show everyone through this production to love people for being people. It's important for people to realize that we are the same in order to appreciate our differences.

"So, by casting it the way we did, completely ignoring our cast members' race, creed, background, we cast it based solely on what they showed in the auditions."

That extends to the Gilberts' father, Bruce Gilbert, who plays Edna Turnblad.

It's not the first time that Bruce Gilbert, a former Northampton County Councilman, has been on stage. He played The Lion in SFA's "The Wiz."

"He had so much fun with that. He lives for the stage," says Taryn Gilbert.

The Gilberts, who were home-schooled, grew up in Palmer Township.

"We participated in a lot of musical theater, growing up," says Gilbert, mentioning Civic Theatre of Allentown, Pennsylvania Playhouse and Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre.

Previous SFA shows were presented at the Scottish Rite Cathedral, Allentown, and the Charles A. Brown Ice House, Broughal Middle School, Northeast Middle School and the Blast Furnace Room, ArtsQuest Center, SteelStacks, all Bethlehem.

SFA has been rehearsing for "Hairspray" since mid-May. The production includes a 12-piece orchestra. Diamond Theatre provides the sound system and lights.

The SFA "Hairspray" Gilbert cast includes Taryn (Velma Von Tussle), Tasia (Penny Pingleton), Teara (co-director, ensemble), Jewel (co-director, ensemble) and Jorne (Fender). The Gilberts design, build and paint sets, design and make costumes, select props and are part of the production crew.

The "Hairspray" cast includes Kiyaana Cox-Jones (Motormouth Maybelle), Christopher Ryland (Corny Collins) and Todd Carpien (Wilbur Turnblad).

"Hairspray" is the 10th stage production for SFA, now in its fifth year, including: "Cinderella: The Enchanted Edition," 2011; "White Christmas," 2011; "The Wiz," 2012; "All-Night Strut," a revue, 2012; "Shrek The Musical," 2013, a Lehigh Valley area production debut; "Babes In Toyland," 2013; "Disney's Tarzan The Musical," 2014, and "A Little Princess," 2014.

SFA presented "Seusical The Musical" in April under a big-top tent at The Meadows, Hellertown, and plans to present "The Addams Family: The Musical," believed to be a Lehigh Valley debut for a locally-produced version, at a venue to be announced, and "A Little Princess," SFA's annual Christmas show.

"We do try to pick shows that are family-oriented," says Taryn Gilbert "Our goal is build our own theater."

The SFA press release states that the organization "exists to bring light to the world through the arts. It strives to compel all people to reach for the stars, to bring quality enriching entertainment and arts education to families at a price they can afford, and to unite our community under love of God, country and fellow man.

"Through serving those in need cast members and audiences will truly learn the importance of working for something greater than self, and through experiencing a color blind world on stage they will live it off stage, spreading that way of life throughout the world."

When asked about SFA's moto, "Truth and Light," Taryn Gilbert says, "We are a Christian organization. What we really want to do is be a positive light for theater-goers and for anybody who wants to get involved in theater."

Tickets: SingforAmerica.com, 610-758-2787