curtain-raiser
nounUK /ˈkɜːtnˌreɪzə/
US /ˈkɝːtnˌreɪzɚ/
A curtain-raiser is a short show that happens before the main one.
The little play was a curtain-raiser before the big concert.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A short first game or match played before the main event.
The junior teams played a curtain-raiser before the final.
3. An event that comes before and leads up to something bigger.
The small rally was a curtain-raiser for the big election campaign.
4. The first short performance of a play or show.
The curtain-raiser got the audience excited for the main act.