"Show Boat” author Ferber (4)
I believe the answer is:
edna
'show boat author ferber' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for edna that I've seen before include "- O'Brien, Ir. novelist" , "Dean (anag) - it's a girl's name!" , "Female Dane, oddly" , "Girl for Dane" , "Female name" .)