Unicorn Jazz The Musical and Play Brought to Life in El Paso, Texas
Unicorn Jazz The Play with bonus music features (as seen in the original book) is Brought to Life in El Paso, Texas Beloved Children’s Book Turned into Schoo Musical Play Theater: Cooley Elementary Brings Unicorn Jazz to Life
Unicorn Jazz The Musical and Play Brought to Life in El Paso, Texas
El Paso, TX – In a shining example of a children’s book turned into school play theater production, the students of Cooley Elementary School are bringing the beloved story Unicorn Jazz to life on stage. The upcoming play is set for a live performance on Wednesday, May 18, 2025, at Cooley Elementary. This comes from author Lisa Caprelli’s award-winning children’s book into a heartfelt school theatrical event. What began as a shy unicorn’s tale of finding her voice has grown into a community-wide celebration of creativity, courage, and the power of social-emotional learning.
A Story of Kindness and Courage Takes the Stage
At the heart of Unicorn Jazz is a shy unicorn named Jazz who moves to a new land and learns to embrace her unique talent – singing – with the encouragement of an unlikely friend, Woof the Crow. With Woof’s support, Jazz finds the courage to share her voice, learning to be proud of what makes her different (unicornjazz.com).
The story emphasizes themes that resonate strongly with young audiences and educators alike. Some of the uplifting lessons from Unicorn Jazz include:
The importance of kindness and friendship – how friends like Woof can help us see the best in ourselves.
Having courage to be yourself – even if you feel shy or different at first.
Believing in your unique talents – Jazz discovers her singing is a gift meant to be shared.
These themes have made Unicorn Jazz a beloved SEL-focused series (Social-Emotional Learning). The book promotes social-emotional learning (SEL), delivering positive messages about compassion, inclusion, and self-acceptance. Its focus on empathy, kindness, and believing in oneself has turned young readers into fans and earned the series praise from parents and teachers for its educational value.
Write authorlisacaprelli@gmail.com for your free El Paso Zoo Field Trip Guide that goes with Unicorn Jazz book one in our series
“I wrote Unicorn Jazz to inspire children to celebrate what makes them unique, and seeing the students bring that to life on stage is a dream come true,” says author Lisa Caprelli. Caprelli, an El Paso native, infused her own childhood experiences into the story – even setting Jazz’s new home in El Paso to give her hometown a special spotlightunicornjazz.com.
El Paso Harold Post News Lisa Caprelli, creator of Unicorn Jazz makes headlines thanks to Cooley Elementary School Librarian Martha Esquinca
Author Lisa Caprelli was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. Read Lisa Caprelli’s article about growing up with the school Thomas Manor Elementary!
“As someone who grew up here, it’s incredibly heartwarming to have my story celebrated in the community that raised me.” Caprelli has published over 23 books and created Unicorn Jazz as a series focused on kindness and belonging. The Unicorn Jazz books have even evolved into a kids’ TV show, but this school play might be the most personal adaptation yet for the El Paso-born authorunicornjazz.com. (Caprelli is available for interviews about the book and its journey to the stage.)
From Page to Stage: A School’s Creative Journey
The idea to adapt Unicorn Jazz into a school play began last year after Cooley Elementary’s librarian, Martha Esquinca, invited Lisa Caprelli for an author visit in August 2024. The visit – covered by EPISD media and attended by hundreds of wide-eyed students – sparked a flame of inspiration. “The moment our students met Lisa and heard Unicorn Jazz, I knew we had something special,” says Esquinca, “who brought Unicorn Jazz books to its students since the pandemic.
Unicorn Jazz quickly became a library favorite in El Paso, Texas and the librarian saw an opportunity to extend its impact beyond the page. By bringing the book to the drama department, she helped plant the seed that would grow into a full-fledged school play.
Bringing a children’s book to the stage was a team effort. Cooley’s drama teacher, Ms. Susan Levin, enthusiastically took on the challenge of directing the adaptation. Ms. Levin is no stranger to ambitious productions – she previously directed the school’s well-received performance of Annie, and she recognized that Unicorn Jazz’s message would resonate deeply with students. Over the past several months, Ms. Levin worked with students to develop a script and musical numbers that capture the magic of Jazz and Woof’s friendship. “Our students have truly poured their hearts into this,” Levin says. “From auditions to rehearsals, they’ve embraced the story’s message of kindness and courage. It’s wonderful to see them step into the spotlight with such confidence and joy.”
The cast and crew include over 40 students from various grades – an impressive turnout that speaks to the excitement around this production. In fact, multiple talented students auditioned for the lead role of Unicorn Jazz, eager to personify the lovable unicorn with the purple musical note for a tail (a playful detail fans will recognizeunicornjazz.com). Likewise, the character of Woof the Crow drew enthusiastic auditions, as did other charming animal characters from the book. The large ensemble also means many children are involved behind the scenes: from stage design and costumes (yes, there’s a unicorn horn and tail on stage!) to lighting and sound, students are taking charge. Parent volunteers have been the unsung heroes, helping sew costumes, paint backdrops, and chaperone rehearsals. “It’s been all hands on deck,” notes Ms. Levin, praising the parents and staff who have supported everything from weekend set-building to bake sales for funding. Unicorn Jazz may be a fantasy story, but turning it into a play has been a very real lesson in teamwork and creativity for everyone involved.
Local Roots: Lisa Will be Honoring Author Illustrator Davey Villalobos
The Unicorn Jazz play is more than just an arts project – it’s a celebration of local talent and a tribute to those who brought the story to life. Lisa Caprelli, who grew up in El Paso, has always been proud of her roots and often credits her hometown for instilling the values found in her books. Now, her alma mater community is giving back that love by celebrating her work on stage. The school community sees this as an opportunity to honor Caprelli’s success and inspire other young writers and dreamers. “Our kids see that someone from their own city wrote this. It makes it personal – they feel like, ‘I can do this too,’” says Librarian Martha Esquinca about the impact on students.
Equally important is the tribute to the late illustrator of Unicorn Jazz, who was also an El Paso native. The book’s illustrator, Davey Villalobos, poured his heart into creating the whimsical art of Jazz’s worldunicornjazz.com. Sadly, Davey passed away in December 2024, leaving behind a legacy of beautiful illustrations that have delighted children for years. This school performance is being dedicated to his memory.
On the night of the play, the production will include a small moment of remembrance – artwork from the book Lisa will donate to the library – to honor Davey’s contribution.
“Davey’s art made Unicorn Jazz who she is,” Lisa Caprelli says, with emotion. “We lost a brilliant artist and family member, but his spirit lives on in every drawing. This performance is in his honor, and I know he’d be so proud to see the characters dance off the page.”
The Villalobos family has been invited as VIP guests to the show, a gesture of gratitude and love from the school and author. Jon Villalobos and family, relatives of Davey, will be in attendance to witness the joy their loved one’s art continues to inspire.
Community Support and VIP Guests Make It a Night to Remember
What makes this “children’s book turned into school play” especially newsworthy is the wave of community support surrounding it. Cooley Elementary’s halls have been buzzing for weeks as students rehearse lines and songs. Teachers have integrated the play’s themes into lessons, reinforcing messages of kindness and self-confidence during the school day. Parents have rallied behind the scenes, and local businesses donated materials for sets and props. The entire endeavor has become a community labor of love, showing how storytelling can bring people together.
The May 18, 2025 live performance is shaping up to be a marquee event for the school and local community. VIP guests will be in attendance to cheer on the young performers. Among them is Oscar Arriaga, the Marketing & Customer Relations Coordinator of the El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens. (In a fun twist, pages of Unicorn Jazz even feature the El Paso Zoo, making Mr. Arriaga’s presence extra special) He, along with other dignitaries and special guests, will join the audience to celebrate the students’ hard work. “It’s not every day you see a children’s book come to life in this way,” Arriaga says. “This production highlights the creativity of our kids and the values we strive for as a community.” Also attending are Lisa’s family and brother of illustrator, Davey – Jon Villalobos and family – representing the illustrator’s family – and other local figures who have supported arts and education initiatives in El Paso. The school has even extended an invitation to local news station KVIA to cover the event, hoping to shine a broader spotlight on how storytelling, SEL, and performing arts empower youth and unite communities.
“We’re excited to show El Paso what our students can do,” says Susan Levick, drama teacher of Cooley Elementary.
Unicorn Jazz on stage is not only a proud moment for the school but also a testament to the impact of creative education. Research has shown that engaging in drama can boost students’ confidence and teamwork skills (theguardian.com) – something that has been evident as these children have grown throughout the rehearsal process. For many of the young cast members, this will be their first time performing for a live audience. By channeling the story’s lessons of bravery and friendship, they’ve discovered new confidence in themselves. “I used to be really shy, just like Jazz,” admits one fifth-grader in the cast, “but now I love singing in front of people! I can’t wait for my family to see me on stage.” Such personal transformations are exactly what Unicorn Jazz is about – believing in yourself and encouraging others.
Save the Date: A Celebration of Storytelling Where Dreams Do Come True
Thus one-night-only performance of Unicorn Jazz at Cooley Elementary on May 18, 2025. It promises to be an evening filled with music, laughter, and a few happy tears – a true celebration of kindness, friendship, and courage brought to life by children.
As the curtains rise and a shy unicorn finds her voice under the spotlight, the message will be clear: when young scholars are given encouragement and a stage to shine, their light can brighten the whole community.
We mark our calendars for this children’s book turned into school play theater sctacle. Cooley Elementary and Lisa Caprelli invite parents of students and VIP exclusive invitation only – to witness how the magic of a story, combined with the enthusiasm of youth and the support of a village, can create something truly inspiring. Local media (and hopefully KVIA) are encouraged to cover the event and share in the positivity. Unicorn Jazz has journeyed from the page into the hearts of a school – now, that joy is ready to be shared with all of El Paso, celebrating the power of storytelling and the importance of believing in yourself.
Sources: The Unicorn Jazz book series and its SE;L message unicornjazz.com; background on Lisa Caprelli and Unicorn Jazz in El Paso illustrator Davey Villalobos remembered; educational benefits of theater in schools.