Composer across initial shows (7)
I believe the answer is:
rossini
'composer' is the definition.
(Italian composer Gioachino Rossini)
'across initial shows' is the wordplay.
'shows' indicates a hidden word.
'ROSSINI' is hidden within 'across initial'.
(Other definitions for rossini that I've seen before include "he produced harmony" , "Italian composer, 1792-1868" , "Composer of the opera William Tell, d. 1868" , "He composed operas" , "Largo al factotum composer" .)