It isn't by chance that the Concord Community Players' production of Godspell, which comes to the Concord City Auditorium this weekend, is set in a junkyard.

The theater group is recycling the 39-year-old musical, preserving its script, characters and high-energy score, while re-imagining it for a new era.

"We're trying very hard to make it different," said longtime Community Player Doug Schwarz, who plays Judas in the production. "We were determined going into it not to make it the same Godspell that everybody has seen over and over again."

Besides being relocated to a modern-day junkyard, the musical has undergone a wardrobe update and lots of little tweaks and changes. The choreography is brand new, and the actors have put their own stamp on the characters.

"I wouldn't presume to change the gospel of St. Matthew, but there are a lot

of surprises that I think people will get a chuckle out of," said director George Kelly, who oversaw the revision.

While it was a challenge to revive such a well-worn production, Kelly believed the values at the heart of the musical were worth preserving. "We seem to have lost sight that we are the city on the hill in the United States," he said. "I thought that Godspell, with its message, is calling us back to some decency, compassion, community."

To foster that sense of community, the players have reached out to churches across the region, and many are sending groups to one of the shows.

"I think it's a good contrast to show the kids that Christianity can be fun and uplifting," said Randy Severance, who works with the youth ministry at Chichester Congregational Church. Severance met with some resistance from church leaders when he proposed they bring a group of young people to the production. "Their memory of the show was clown makeup, flower children, hippie things," he said. "But I think the resistance comes from their interpretation . . . you have to really understand what they're trying to convey."

To explore that thread, the players are hosting a discussion on Jesus in film and the media, led by former priest and divinity scholar Robert Stiefel, to go along with the production. That takes place Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Concord City Auditorium lobby.

Schwarz, a former Harvard-schooled divinity scholar himself, believes the discussion could take some lively turns. "There are as many theatrical interpretations of who and what Jesus was as there are religions based on who and what Jesus was," he said.

Godspell, with its unambiguous view of Jesus as redeemer, leaves room for interesting interpretations. Schwarz's own character, Judas, for instance, is more pawn than villain in the players' version.

"It's been fun to play him that way, actually," Schwarz said.

(Godspell takes place tomorrow and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium. Tickets are $17 ($14 children under 18 and seniors) and can be purchased at 224-4905 or communityplayersofconcord.org. A free discussion on Jesus in film and the media takes place Saturday at 2 p.m. in the lobby. Light refreshments will be available.)