Anthony Green’s Cagedbirds Productions Soars to Chicago with "When Boys Exhale"

Courtesy of Anthony Green

By: Aiden Lee

Anthony Green doesn’t just tell stories—he creates healing spaces. As the founder of Cagedbirds Productions, Green has built a platform for Black LGBTQ+ narratives that are as bold as they are tender, as hilarious as they are heart-wrenching. This August 15–16, his celebrated stage play When Boys Exhale lands at Definition Theatre in Chicago, promising an unforgettable night of laughter, tears, and unapologetic truth.

But this isn’t just theater—it’s testimony.

From Writing Contest to Cultural Movement

Cagedbirds began humbly in 2017 as a writing contest for students in juvenile and alternative schools, giving marginalized youth a place to share their truths. Over time, Green’s vision evolved. His HIV advocacy and deep ties to the LGBTQ+ community shifted the company’s focus to affirming Black queer stories on stage and screen.

“Storytelling builds empathy,” Green says. “It’s a for us, by us approach—Black and queer creatives telling our stories authentically and unapologetically.”

The Story Behind When Boys Exhale

The play’s origins are deeply personal. A close friend of Green’s was dying from complications related to HIV, and in their last conversation, he confided his fear of being forgotten. Green decided to immortalize his friend’s life—through the lens of his favorite film, Waiting to Exhale. The result is When Boys Exhale, a Black gay friendship dramedy laced with cultural references and inside jokes for those who know.

The show has played to sold-out audiences in DC, Atlanta, and Houston. Chicago marks its fourth city—and for Green, it’s more than a tour stop. “It feels like a homecoming,” he says. “I spent so many summers on the South Side. Chicago shaped me.”

Why This Show Matters

Cagedbirds Productions has built a reputation for reimagining iconic Black films through an LGBTQ+ lens (Soul Food, Love Jones, Set It Off). But these aren’t mere remakes—they’re fresh stories with familiar themes, crafted to reflect the layered realities of Black queer life.

“I can’t sit through another trauma story without the joy,” Green explains. “Yes, life is hard. But our magic is that we create our own light in the darkness.”

The Chicago Cast

For this run, Green has assembled what he calls “the best ensemble to ever tell this story”—Derwin King, Kristin Michelle Young, Collier Randall, and Ephraim Nehemiah—a powerhouse team ready to make Chicago laugh, cry, and, yes, exhale.

The Legacy Green Is Building

For Green, success isn’t measured in awards or box office numbers, but in impact. He recalls one audience member—a stylish, guarded Black gay man—reduced to an unfiltered, cathartic sob during the show. “In that moment, I knew,” Green says. “This is what I’m meant to do.”

And if you ask him for advice for young creators? “Stop waiting for someone to give you permission. Build your own table.”

Show Details

📅 When: August 15–16, 2025

📍 Where: Definition Theatre, Chicago

🎟 Tickets: Available now on Eventbrite — search WHEN BOYS EXHALE CHICAGO

If you’ve ever wanted to see yourself—fully, joyfully, and truthfully—on stage, this is your invitation. Anthony Green’s When Boys Exhale isn’t just a play. It’s a celebration, a mirror, and a moment you’ll carry long after the curtain falls.