curtain raiser
Show before show
A curtain raiser is a short performance before the main theatrical event—a brief play or act staged while the audience settles in.
By extension, any preliminary event that precedes something larger: The scrimmage was a curtain raiser for the regular season.
The term evokes the moment before the curtain rises on the real show.
Introductory orchestral piece
- prologueIntroductory literary section
- preludeIntroductory piece or event
- opening actPreliminary concert performer
- premiereFirst public performance
debut · matinee · playbill · intermission · encore · backstage · rehearsal · auditorium
overture
Introductory orchestral piece
- prologueIntroductory literary section
- preludeIntroductory piece or event
- opening actPreliminary concert performer
premiere · debut · matinee · playbill · intermission · encore · backstage · rehearsal · auditorium · stagehand
opener
What begins something
introduction · warm-up · icebreaker · lead-in · precursor · preview · teaser · appetizer · undercard · supporting act
prelude
Introductory piece or event
commencement · outset · debut · advent · onset · threshold · initiation · birth · infancy · foundation
- beginningsbegin, beginning, start, first, opening
- short playsone-act, short play, playlet, one-act play, sketch
- show openersoverture, opening act, preshow, opening number, warm-up act
- show segmentsact, number, opening number, closing number, finale
- preludesprelude, overture, chorale prelude, introduction, intro
- Victorian TheatreHenrik Ibsen, proscenium, Oscar Wilde, footlights, backstage
curtain raisermain event
Featured performance or contest
headliner · main attraction · main act · star attraction · headline act
curtain raiserfinale
Concluding part of performance
grand finale · closing act · closer · curtain call · encore
curtain, introductory, curtained, curtaining, curtainless, curtain call, curtain-raiser