October, 2026
No two days in event production are the same. Sometimes, you get to be a part of sports history. The Washington Wizards' 2026 NBA Draft Party was an unforgettable night for the organization and its fans. Showtime Sound was proud to provide production services that helped bring the celebration to life. Our team delivered audio control, supplemental lighting and video systems, and on-site technical support for the event, held at The Anthem at The Wharf. The Wizards made history by selecting consensus top prospect AJ Dybantsa from Brigham Young University with the #1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. From the first guest arrival through the exciting draft announcement and celebration, every technical element was designed to create a seamless, high-energy experience.
Large-scale live events like this demand flawless technical execution, especially when every announcement is broadcast to an audience eager to witness history unfold. Tayler Durantini: Director, Show Production at Monumental Sports and Entertainment and Lighting Director at Capital One Arena explained, “Every draft day is always exciting, but having the #1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft made this year incredibly important to celebrate. We wanted to provide not only a fun and interactive experience for fans, but a visually stunning one to convey the excitement behind the night.”
Behind the scenes, our technicians worked closely with event organizers to make sure every cue, transition, and presentation happened exactly as planned. Durantini detailed, “When designing this year’s event, I knew that we would need exceptional service, problem solvers and great gear to produce a successful show. Working with Showtime Sound allowed us to accomplish all three of those elements. As the Production and Lighting Designer for the event, I was excited to get my hands on the ACME Tornado fixture to integrate into the rig. It was the standout fixture for the night, providing us with some cool visual fx on the stage and explosive programming options when the draft pick dropped.” Showtime CFO and Senior Lighting Designer Aaron Kovelman commented, “What makes the Tornado so compelling is the sheer number of tools packed into a single fixture. Five independently moving heads, LED rings that add another layer of visual effects, along with the more traditional suite of zoom, color, and strobe capabilities, give a designer an enormous palette without filling the rig with several different fixture types. It can be subtle and architectural one moment and completely explosive the next. Being one of the first companies in our market to invest in ACME Tornadoes gives Showtime another way to deliver looks that feel fresh, distinctive, and visually memorable, while giving our designers a powerful tool that can take on multiple roles within the same production.”
Throughout the evening, the production team ensured crisp, intelligible audio, dynamic lighting looks, and impactful video content that kept fans engaged and immersed in every moment. Durantini noted, “When it comes to video, I knew that a larger-than-life LED package would be the biggest aspect of this event. We wanted the fans to feel like they were in the room with the live NBA Draft television programming, and the massive screens did just that.” Kovelman explained, “The Absen PL3.9 Pro gives us a highly flexible LED platform that can scale from smaller video installations to large-format environments like this one. Its 3.9-millimeter pixel pitch delivers excellent image quality at the viewing distances we typically encounter, while its rental-focused design supports efficient deployment and a variety of configurations. From a business standpoint, that adaptability is extremely valuable. The more applications we can cover with the same inventory, the greater our utilization and return on investment. Most importantly, it allows us to provide clients with a dependable, high-impact video solution without compromising image quality or design capability.”
At Showtime Sound, we believe every event tells a story, and few stories are as exciting as witnessing sports history in the making. Our crew takes pride in delivering seamless production that allows clients and guests to stay focused on the excitement of the event while we handle the technical details. We are honored to have partnered with the Washington Wizards for this incredible celebration and to have contributed to an evening that fans will remember for years to come. Congratulations to AJ Dybantsa and the Wizards on the beginning of an exciting new chapter. We look forward to helping bring many more unforgettable moments to life.
ABOUT SHOWTIME SOUND LLC Showtime Sound LLC is a full-service event production company located in Frederick, Maryland that provides a wide range of audio, lighting, video, staging, and backline for any size event or venue. The Showtime team specializes in production integration. They design, build, and move events from large clubs to touring arenas to outdoor stadiums. From start to finish, Showtime Sound LLC provides turn-key event production. https://www.showtimesoundllc.com
Photos by Tayler Durantini and Demitrios leromonahos