Premiere Stages, the professional Equity theatre company in residence at Kean University, is pleased to recognize THE DEFECTORS as a Semi-Finalist for the 2025 Premiere Play Festival. THE DEFECTORS rose through a competitive selection conducted by Premiere staff and an external panel of professionals to become distinguished among 805 submissions. The panel commended the play's dive into navigating these disorders both online and through human connection. Our congratulations and thanks to Nick.

A very uncomfortable play in all the best ways. This play is a LOT to navigate through and uses all sorts of creative forms to tell this story. I love that this play creates an everyday look to ED and the never ending journey of recovery on non typical bodies. Everyone is flawed and simply trying to do their best and that's what's so relatable yet heartbreaking.

Malakhow tackles (and succeeds!) in addressing a myriad of issues. Online forums are helpful but humans need contact. Humans need to look into each other face-to-face without a screen. And the road to recovery from addiction doesn’t have a clear ending. We meet these characters after they have “recovered” and Malakhow explores how rocky and tenuous the recovery road is. Theatrical, poignant, and nuanced, this play will keep you rooting for his characters long after the curtain comes down.