Theatrical key art combines graphic design and illustration. It has two major functions.
First, it has to distill the concepts, themes, or subject matter of the show into one focused, meaningful image.
Second, that image has to be arresting enough to encourage contemporary audiences to leave their homes (harder and harder to do in the streaming age, and I feel the pull as much as anyone), to come to a theatre, and to engage with the work.
In other words, it has to be a kickass image, a kickass design, and it has to get butts in seats.
