This year, Mr. Panther is making a comeback. After being unable to host Mr. Panther in 2020 and 2021, Miami Palmetto Senior High’s Television Production program has gone above and beyond to make this year’s show one to remember. 

“One of the things that we did want to do is we wanted to make it a fully immersive experience,” TVP sponsor and Activities Director Elizabeth Valero said. “So we’re playing a lot with projections, sound cues, commercials and telling a real story from the moment you step in to the moment you leave, so it kind of feels like a ride in a theme park; the minute you step in line you’re a part of that world.”

Mr. Panther is a beloved competition at Palmetto. It showcases several male students at Palmetto who represent either a club or a sport. They are judged by nine judges on seven different categories from personality to talent, with the judges consisting of Palmetto teachers and faculty who rate each contestant on a scale from one to ten. 

Furthermore, the show begins with 20 contestants. The first round of eliminations eliminates 10 contestants, the second round eliminates five contestants and the third round names the 2022 Mr. Panther. 

Since late November, TVP students and Valero have been preparing for this event. They have done commercials, photoshoots and more — to ensure that this year’s Mr. Panther goes smoothly and that there are no mishaps.

“We’ve had a lot of obstacles doing it, like how we’re going to set up all the technical equipment and where we’re going to put our audience and our judges, but it’s been really fun to tackle those adventures and create a very new experience,” Vice President of TVP Sebastian Soto said. “Mr. Panther this year is very different than it’s ever been since it’s not in the auditorium, so it’s less of a show and more of an experience.”

The Mr. Panther contestants are also putting in a lot of work to make sure that they do their part to make the event a success. They have to be part of TVP’s filming process and photoshoots, as well as coming up with a talent for the talent portion of the event, all while working on the two musical numbers that will be happening on the night of the event.  

There are two types of tickets available for purchase: general admission or VIP tivkets. Students can purchase VIP tickets in Valero’s office during their lunches. These tickets allow guests to sit in the front rows on the gymnasium floor, rather than in the bleachers. Students who purchase VIP tickets will also receive complimentary “Panthers in Black” (the Mr. Panther 2022 theme) sunglasses. General admissions tickets can be purchased for $10 before Mar. 11 or for $15 the day of the show. Mr. Panther will be held in the gymnasium on Friday, Mar. 11 at 6:30 p.m.