It was Purple Side’s year to “unite the family we love” as they clinched a victory at the 2025 College Night celebration on Saturday, Feb. 15. Palmer Hall Auditorium was filled with Purple pride as Student Trustee Kendall Miller read the winning catchphrase. The side’s students, alumni, friends and family burst into celebration at the announcement, completing this year’s Homecoming and College Night weekend.
The Purples won with “The Legacy of the Iron Witch,” which tells the tragic story of its title character. Cora was once a benevolent witch but was tempted by the Book of Shadows and overtaken by dark magic. Known now as the Iron Witch, she brought suffering to the land in her quest for more power. But one day she would become trapped in the book, much to the townspeople’s joy.
She leaves behind her three witch daughters. Sasha and Natalia work on a spell to summon their mother, but the eldest, Helena, is firmly against it. The spell is successful and brings them the Book of Shadows, which Helena protests and snatches away. She accidentally opens it and becomes possessed by her mother. Helena reads a prophecy, explaining all that must be done to reunite the mother and daughters.
Sasha and Natalia set out on the prophecy’s quest, which leads them to the Forgeville Pirate’s Clan, where everyone is partially made of metal because of the Iron Witch. They befriend Cedric, who is more metal than anyone. He finally agrees to help them and takes them to The Sleeping Dragon bar, where the owner’s true form is a dragon that sets after them. Cedric holds the beast off while the sisters escape.
The witch, now fully controlling Helena, reveals that Helena was the one who trapped her in the book and that the tasks they completed were necessary to give her back her own body. She is freed from Helena’s body and kills Cedric as he tries to attack her. Helena uses magic to erase her mother’s mind, and the witch returns as Cora, pleading to her daughters to forgive her. Natalia’s mind has unfortunately been erased too, but her reunited family assures her that all is well as the townspeople rejoice in Cora’s return. The show closes with a bewildered Natalia opening the book and feeling the rush of its dark magic before slamming it shut.
Gold Side’s “Masterpiece: The Art of the Clandestine and Confidential” follows the secret agents of the Global Operative League of Design (GOLD) as they solve the mystery of a rare stolen painting called “The Lioness.” Jess Houston and Nick Stephens, two down-on-their-luck detectives, are recruited by Agent Farrah Fielding to help find the art thief — suspected to be a mole in the GOLD agency. They meet the rest of GOLD and the organization’s ornery director, Michelle P. Moss, who urges them to investigate the agents’ backgrounds — specifically Fielding’s.
“The Lioness” slips through the squad’s fingers once again at an art auction. Houston discovers that GOLD’s Holly Bishop has sabotaged the mission and captures her for interrogation, but is convinced she isn’t working alone. Houston presents her suspicions of Fielding — an ex-CIA agent that has messed up past missions by running off on her own — to Stephens, but he disagrees. He and Fielding later stumble upon the painting, which has been stashed in the GOLD building. Moss shows up and smugly admits that she is the culprit and unveils her plan to frame the two, having them arrested. Luckily, the other agents are hot on the case and spot the shady director selling “The Lioness” to a mystery man.
GOLD captures the stranger at a casino, and he is revealed to be a top CIA agent and art collector who promised Moss a CIA job in exchange for the painting. Houston later frees Stephens and Fielding from their cell, and the three vow to work together to stop Moss. After much commotion throughout the office as the lockdown alarm blares, the agents seize Moss and take her away. All is right again within the ranks of GOLD, and Houston and Stephens eagerly accept permanent positions at the agency.
At Friday evening’s performances, the 2025 College Night dedication was presented to Dr. David Callaghan, professor of theatre, in honor of his service to students and his support of UM’s beloved Homecoming tradition. Gold Side leader Cole Broadhead and Purple Side cheer captain Rechelle Davis were crowned Mr. and Mrs. Montevallo.
Homecoming weekend began Friday with an 1896 Society brunch at the Alan and Lindsey Song Center for the Arts, a special viewing of the Americans and the Holocaust exhibit at Carmichael Library and the University of Montevallo National Alumni Association’s Homecoming Awards Dinner and Annual Business Meeting, where the UMNAA award winners were recognized. Willie L. Phillips ’00 received the Distinguished Alumni Award, David Howard Thornton ’04 received the Nathalie Molton Gibbons Alumni Achievement Award and Julia M. Maloney ’13 received the Nathalie Molton Gibbons Young Achiever’s Award.
Throughout Saturday morning and afternoon, Montevallo alumni, students, faculty, staff, family and friends ventured around campus to participate in various Homecoming reunions. Kicking things off with alumni coffee in Reynolds Hall, the day’s festivities featured various departmental and affinity receptions across campus. The UMNAA hosted a 50-year reunion celebration at Anna Irvin Dining Hall for the Class of 1975, as well as reunions for the Old Golds and Vintage Purples alumni clubs and Alabama College graduates.
Saturday also featured the College Night men’s basketball game and cheer competition at Central State Bank Arena, with food trucks parked outside the McChesney Student Activity Center for attendees to enjoy lunch.
The reunion events concluded just before the College Night productions with the Alumni Art Auction and Poole Party, along with the Alumni Party and Decades Reunion — with special recognition to the Classes of 1975, 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2015 — at the Alan and Lindsey Song Center for the Arts.
