Riverside Second Grader Takes the Stage for The First Time in Law & Order: Fairy Tale Unit

All it took was a show at Disney for Lyam Hooke to realize that he wanted to be on stage.

The Riverside second grader has made his stage debut at the New Castle Playhouse production of Law & Order: Fairy Tale Unit.

We caught up with Lyam, to learn more about him and to wish him luck for his first time on stage, for a Q&A:::

Meet Lyam Hooke

Part in Play: I am Doc and he’s a basketball player.

Current Grade: I’m going into second grade.

Been in musicals/plays since: This is my first time doing a play.

Previous leads/musicals you’ve been in: this is my first time being in a show.

Favorite line in the show: “dental school”

What interested you in this role: I went to Disney World and saw the Lion King, and decided then that I wanted to be on stage acting too.

What is an iconic prop or favorite part of your costume: probably the beard I get to wear.

What’s the hardest part about your role: learning how to memorize my lines

What do you think the audience will like about the production: It’s funny and people will like all of the jokes.

If you could have a part in any musical … what would that musical be and why: I would be Fiyero in Wicked because it’s my favorite musical.

What other activities are you involved in: I play baseball for Riverside.

What do you want to be when you grow up: I want to be a cast member at Disney world who gets to act on stage.

Anything else you would like to add: I am 7 years old.

About the Show!

Law & Order: Fairy Tale Unit is a fast-paced, one-act comedic parody written by Jonathan Rand. The play brilliantly mashes up the gritty, fast-talking style of the classic television crime procedural with the whimsical characters of children’s nursery rhymes and fables. Audiences are dropped directly into a world where the fairy tale police investigate crimes, and the fairy tale district attorneys prosecute the offenders. The entire show runs for approximately 45 to 60 minutes, making it a highly accessible and energetic theatrical piece.

Audiences can expect a hilarious, self-aware comedy packed with rapid-fire jokes, pop culture references, and familiar storybook faces behaving like seasoned criminals and hard-boiled detectives. The plot kicks off with the destruction of the houses of the Three Little Pigs, which leads the investigators down a bizarre rabbit hole of fairy tale crimes. From Cinderella’s missing slipper mystery to the suspicious, tragic fall of Humpty Dumpty, the play keeps viewers laughing as iconic, innocent characters are grilled in interrogation rooms and forced to testify on the witness stand.

Production highlights include the distinct, dramatic “dun-dun” sound effects played between scene transitions, perfectly mimicking the TV show’s signature tone to elevate the parody. Because of its minimalist set requirements and universally appealing humor, the show has become a massive hit for middle schools, high schools, and community theaters looking to deliver a fun, high-energy performance.