Draws a parallel, we hear, to those who keep the show going (8)

'draws' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'a parallel we hear to those who keep the show going' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'a' could be 'per' (eg 'one a day' means 'one per day') and 'per' is present in the answer.
'show' could be 'come' (come can mean to show up at an event) and 'come' is found in the leftover letters.
A single letter 's' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?