Breakout artists Keys introduces close to stage (8)
I believe the answer is:
escapees
'breakout artists keys introduces close to stage' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'breakout artists keys introduces close to' is the wordplay.
'breakout' becomes 'escape' (I've seen this in another clue).
'artists keys' becomes 'e' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'close to' indicates one should take the final letters (the close/ending of).
The final letter of 'introduces' is 's'.
'escape'+'e'+'s'='ESCAPEES'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for escapees that I've seen before include "Those getting free (E, not R)" , "They get away from confinement" , "Gaol-breakers" , "They've run away from confinement" , "They got away" .)