Saint Louis University’s Studio Theatre plays host to R.T. Robinson’s The Cover of Life this weekend in Xavier Hall.

Based in rural Louisiana in 1943, three women Tood (Magan Wiles), Weetsie (Bethany Umbach) and Sybill (Shannon Sanazaro), all married into the Cliffert family and as their husbands went off to war, decided to move in with their mother-in-law.

A local newspaper takes interest in the story of these women keeping the fires burning for their men who are away at war. The story makes its way to the Times-Picayune and then somehow makes it to the desk of Life magazine publisher, Harry Luce, who decides to run it as a “woman’s story.” He sends his best reporter, Kate Miller (Katie Vogt), who accepts the story only because it will be her first cover story.

Miller’s arrogant-urban attitude quickly dissolves as she grows closer to Tood, the youngest of the three Cliffert women. Tood is beginning to grow as a woman and starts to put herself and her dreams first.

Coupled with hope and sympathy, Kate and Tood become close as Kate begins to understand that these “simple,” real American women have helped her come face-to-face with her own powerlessness in a man’s world.

A tragedy in some ways, the hope, charm and the growth of these women as they struggle to achieve a sense of self-worth makes “The Cover of Life” a must see performance.

Performances are Feb. 28 to March 2, at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 3. Tickets for students are $5 and adults are $8