Michael Butler was an American theatrical producer. Butler’s career began as he started to serve as the Special Advisor to the then Senate JFK and this put him in a position to gain so much insight on the political activities. His famous production Hair came about in 1967 when he was preparing to run for the US Senate. He developed an anti-war focus inspired by a conversation with one of his gardeners and when he was on business about civil disorders with Otto Kerner Jr, he attended the show Hai... moreMichael Butler was an American theatrical producer. Butler’s career began as he started to serve as the Special Advisor to the then Senate JFK and this put him in a position to gain so much insight on the political activities. His famous production Hair came about in 1967 when he was preparing to run for the US Senate. He developed an anti-war focus inspired by a conversation with one of his gardeners and when he was on business about civil disorders with Otto Kerner Jr, he attended the show Hair played at the public theatre and he had a strong connection with the show. Its anti-war statement drew him to the show resulting in him obtaining the show and opened it on Broadway in 1968, becoming a success running about 1,750 performances. He saw nine national productions and nineteen international ones before Broadway production closed in 1972.
He was born in Chicago to a wealthy family that owned a business which supplied paper for the U.S Congress and later diversified into dairy, ranching and aviation. His father was a co-founder of the Oak Brook Illinois and the Oak Brook Polo Club. Having been the relative of Tyrone Power and staying with him Butler gained friendship with the Kennedy Family especially the famously known John F Kennedy through his godfathers, friend. Butler dated many women, and has a son from his 1962 marriage to Loyce Stinson Hand.
