Former Goodman Theatre artistic director Bob Falls at helm of 'Amadeus' at Steppenwolf

CHICAGO (WLS) -- For decades, Robert Falls was Goodman Theatre's artistic director, a shining star, luminous as any of his performers or plays.

His talent is now at Steppenwolf, where he's at the helm of the current hit production of "Amadeus."

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The Illinois native said any stage is his home.

Bob Falls is a valiant lion of the theater, but as down to earth as his roots.

"You know, I grew up in this farming community, 900 people downstate Illinois, a town called Ashland. I did, however, come up here for my high school years, grew up out in Villa Park and Lombard area," Falls said. "I've just always been a kid who wanted to tell stories. You know, I was always putting on plays with the kids in the neighborhood, and I've just been lucky to continue to do that my whole life."

"Amadeus" is another triumph for the director.

"It's about envy, jealousy. It's about one man who is the leading composer of his day. And suddenly, this young kid comes into town, Mozart, and it rocks his life. And it makes him look at everything he's doing and going, 'why does this kid, why does this punk seem to have this talent from God? And what is the nature of genius and why does he not have it, and why does Mozart have it?'" Falls said.

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The message still resonate today.

"We've fallen into a world of envy because of that little device we carry around in our hands, and people perfectly curating their lives on Facebook or on Twitter. And people are always thinking, 'oh, there's somebody out there who's having a better life than I'm having,'" Falls said.

He also reflected on his time at the Goodman.

"Steppenwolf and the Goodman have always been the two leading theater companies, without a doubt in the city. And I realized I've worked with over half of the ensemble members. You've got the audience surrounding you. So it creates a real intimacy; you're very close. There's something that gives you a great pleasure in knowing you're in a theater with a group of other people," Falls said.

Falls said coming out of a rehearsal room is one of the favorite parts of his job.

"The great thing about theater at its best is it can be thoughtful. And I've seen it change people's lives. I've seen young people come into theater for the first time and just be taken away with it. And it's their introduction to a new world and there's nothing more pleasurable than that," he said.

"Amadeus" has been extended at Steppenwolf by popular demand.

You can see it through Jan. 25.