Stories are inevitably going to be told when the energy of a folk artist and the writings of a prewar author become entangled. Suzanne Vega is known for telling stories of life’s struggles and rewards through her music, but for the first time, Ms. Vega will be marrying both text and song to tell the stories of the life and works of Carson McCullers. The musical-theatre piece Carson Talks About Love will be performed by Ms. Vega, a guitarist and pianist, at the Yard in Chilmark this weekend.

“It’s two powerful forces,” director and Vineyarder Kay Matschullat said on Wednesday afternoon after rehearsal. “Put them together and a new theatrical gold is born. It’s a Carson who sings like the angel and prods like the devil.”

Ms. Matschullat has been working with Ms. Vega for the past year and a half on the play that is still a work in progress. Before coming to the Vineyard, they worked on the text of the play at a workshop in Vermont; this week, they will concentrate on the music and perform seven songs they have composed so far.

“I’ve been working with strong voices in theatre . . . including one of Tennessee Williams’s last plays,” Ms. Matschullat said, adding: “Theatricizing and bringing these voices is the joy of what I do, these resonating voices.

“What’s exciting about Suzanne is she resonates with a whole world outside of theatre. People will have the thrill of Suzanne performing in this venue and experiencing the seedlings of this play that we have.”

Ms. Vega will perform a series of songs based on stories such as Wunderkind, A Tree, A Rock, A Cloud, Madame Zolinsky and is currently developing songs based on the author’s life. Ms. McCullers’s work focused on stories of Southern outcasts; she moved from Savannah, Ga., to study piano at the Juilliard School of Music in New York city, but changed course and decided to become a writer.

So what does a Southern girl who found herself in New York have in common with an Upper West Side folk artist? “Carson and Suzanne each have a unique sense of humor and the combination makes for some surprising turns,” Ms. Matschullat said. Ms. Vega first became fascinated with Ms. McCullers in college when she worked on a character based on the author for a dramatic monologue class. It was in this class that famous songs like Tom’s Diner and Luka developed, too.

“She’s lived with this character of Carson in her soul since that time,” Ms. Matschullat said. “She’s performing this text and music as Carson McCullers and this character has really been a part of the landscape of her mind since college. This is a big fulfillment of a dream, intention and artistic desire.”

Ms. Vega and Ms. McCullers physically resemble each other. “But it’s also that Carson and Suzanne have a steel will that allows them to create these worlds,” Ms. Matschullat said. “Suzanne with music and Carson with writings, both create characters. They’re great artists because they create these strong worlds.

“There’s a real parallel to their independence as performing artists and ability to achieve their vision.”

Ms. Vega has been on tour in the past few months; now she is concentrating on expanding the musical base of the play. “These are big-range songs, which is wonderful,” Ms. Matschullat said. “She’s very excited.”

Ms. Vega was unavailable for an interview this week.

Ms. Matschullat may be directing the play, but she sees herself more as an advisor to Ms. Vega, who is writing the text and creating Ms. McCullers’ story. “We met at Brooklyn Academy of Music one night, and I was introduced to the marriage of these two souls, so I said let’s talk about it,” she recalled. After the Yard, the play will go on to premier in New York city at Rattlestick Theatre.

But for now, the intimacy of the space of the Yard theatre is perfect for trying out the play. Ms. Matschullat said she looks forward to the audience reaction to the play and welcomes responses at the reception that will follow opening night. After this weekend, the players will refine, reform and add on until they find the perfect balance of stories, text and song.

“Working with Suzanne it’s the writer-performer issue, and both those roles have to be given time and space to do both those things,” Ms. Matschullat said. “Balancing is something I really want to make possible and make it the best possible environment for her to do both these things.”

She continued: “She’s a natural performer; she slips into this seamlessly, she’s very used to bringing an audience in and moving them through,” she said. “That has been really beautiful and simple.”

Ms. Matschullat described Ms. Vega as a “fascinating person,” someone who continues to break into new territory, including this play. “It’s wonderful and enchanting to watch her move in it and live it and live there comfortably,” Ms. Matschullat said. “There’s this is kind of alchemical, wondrous thing happening in the marriage of Suzanne with Carson.”

Carson Talks About Love is Saturday and Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at the Yard. For ticket,s visit dancetheyard.org or call 508-645-9662.