Coward of the theater (4)
I believe the answer is:
noel
'coward of the theater' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for noel that I've seen before include "Xmas refrain" , "namely 4 [COWARD]" , "Yuletide" , "Christmas, esp. in carols; boy's name" , "Christmastime" .)