MARION — Emily probably knew who Walt was, but likely thought him to be vulgar. Walt may not have had a clue that Emily even existed.

But, letting imagination run freely, Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman will come face-to-face for a poetry slam on the Marion Art Center stage next month.

For the May 3 event, part of ArtWeek at the MAC, Dickinson will be portrayed by Mattapoisett’s Annemarie Fredericks and Whitman by professional actor Stephen Collins of Boxborough.

Separately, the two have been preparing for their roles as very different 19th Century American literary figures.

A poetry slam is a spoken word poetry competition that pits one poet against the other. The May 3 slam will center on several themes, which include nature, love society, immortality and religion.

Fredericks used to do theater in high school, but since has had more opportunity to sing than act.

Collins, on the other hand, is a professional actor and lecturer, who habitually performs one man plays on historical figures, including one on Whitman.

“I’ve always loved the theater and dancing and singing, but I’m 65,” Fredericks said, noting that for years she did a lot of work backstage and in costuming. But one of the benefits of retirement is that “I have the time to do [theater] now,” 

Fredericks has played the Mother in “Barefoot in the Park”  at the Marion Arts Center, a role that she particularly enjoyed because it offered her the chance alongside her own daughter.

She noted that their “interaction went well beyond the script” adding that there was “a lot we did naturally” to add to the entertainment of the production. 

For Collins, embodying Whitman comes naturally after years of performing the one-man show.“I have some poetry memorized by him, and I certainly can speak in his character,” Collins said.

What might be more difficult is working with another person. “I haven’t done it in a long time,” he said, “it should be fun.”

For Fredericks, preparing for the role involved a lot more research.

“I did a lot of research already, she and I attended the same college,” though Dickinson dropped out of Mount Holyoke after less than a year, Fredericks said. 

The actress said that there are many myths around Emily Dickinson, including that she was a recluse or only wore white. The reality was quite different.

Fredericks said that Dickinson loved kids, adored gardening, and was active in her church and an excellent baker.She noted that Dickinson battled depression, but was involved in her community

“I would love to share the vibrant love of words,” Fredericks said, of portraying the poet. “She didn’t settle, and truly lived life on her own terms.”

Collins says that what he knows of Dickinson presents some problems for placing her opposite Whitman. “She was aware of who he was and thought he was vulgar,” Collins said.

Collins also said that Whitman likely would not have been aware of who Dickinson was, since much of her poetry was published after her death.

This difference in artistic opinion might also present a challenge for Collins, as he wants to be accurate in Whitman’s imagined reaction to Dickinson’s dismissal but he noted that “I don’t want to be belligerent.”

After Fredericks and Collins face off, the poetry slam will offer the chance for other local poets to read their works on those themes

Tickets for the 7 p.m. poetry slam are $10, and can be purchased at http://www.marionartcenter.org/events/poetry-knockout/.