Broadway star Shannon Tavarez passes away at 11
Shannon Tavarez, the 11 year-old Broadway star who was battling acute myeloid leukemia, has passed away, reports Broadway World. The actress played Young Nala in "The Lion King" September 2009 until April, when she was diagnosed after the symptoms hit her onstage.
The soprano from Queens, New York, garnered the attention of celebrities such as Rihanna and Alicia Keys, who both campaigned to find a bone-marrow donor for her. Doctors were unable to find a donor, so as an alternative, Tavarez received an umbicial-cord blood treatment in August.
Tavarez attended the Harlem School of the Arts for vocals and piano from the age of 3 and won her "Lion King" role after her first open audition, according to Broadway World.
In June 2009, Zap2it reported on Tavarez's struggle to find a bone-marrow match and provided information on how to register to become a donor.
Our thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones.
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Photo credit: Flickr
Shannon Tavarez (In Memorial) The Lion King
She was a youthful actress, exuberant, she would dance and sing,
Dead! “Acute myeloid leukemia” deleted her role in, “The Lion King,”
“Broadway Princess” acclaimed stellar performance in her own right,
The tender innocent age of 11, she battle valiantly but lost her fight.
April, the month of Easter Sunday, the Resurrection would change,
Faces of the world, salvation, snow would melt, the verge of Spring,
Plant the seed, plowing, harvest in mind, the birth of flowers bloom,
All this growth in mind for Shannon Tavarez it ended much too soon.
Repentance! For this pre-teen age girl wasn’t she much to young?
To have committed any evils that would cause her life to be done?
Matthew 19:13-15, Jesus talks about children, kingdom of heaven,
Doctors even preachers don’t know why death creeps in at just 11.
A beginning to an unexplained end, arrived, departed, with a smile,
She began feeling pain in her lower back and legs yet all the while,
Brave! Her story drew attention of numerous celebrities far & wide,
A desperate donor search, to no avail, succumbing, she has died.
Father I ask, why do the tender, pure in heart, so early have to go?
While the sinners multiply like fine crystals as rocky mountain snow,
Such a talented gift rained upon her life could only be from You, so?
Many unexplained early departures like Alliyah, one day we’ll know,
Harlem School of the Arts for vocals, piano & started singing age 3,
Wowing producers her first open audition for, “Nala” it’s no mystery,
Young Nala with Young Simba sang, “I Just Can't Wait to Be King,”
Sorry Shannon, you’ll have to settle for being a, “Kingdom Queen.”
"Father I ask, why do the tender, pure in heart, so early have to go?
While the sinners multiply like fine crystals as rocky mountain snow..."
That pisses me off to the core. It really makes me question in terms of religion things like this. Not fair at all.
Shannon was a special person, a gem, a star and now an angel! My wife and I were inspired by her story and went into the city to be tested during the first drive. While there we ran into many of Shannon’s friends and family who had volunteered to help DKMS with the effort. I recall all the love and hope there was in the air that day and we all felt she would definitely find a match. I myself was hoping it would be me. Unfortunately we couldn’t find one. But if I can say one thing that may help her friends and family cope, is that beyond her talents I know that Shannon had a special purpose.
Just last week DKMS called me to tell me I was found to be a match for a 3 year old girl . I immediately jumped at the opportunity. I can’t say the joy I felt that I may be able to help this young girl live and this is all because of Shannon!!
We Love you Shannon and thanks for being you!
Bert
I myself was hoping it would be me. Unfortunately we couldn’t find one. But if I can say one thing that may help her friends and family cope, is that beyond her talents I know that Shannon had a special purpose.
That picture is not of shannon. That is Jamariana Tribble who played young nala on the lion king tour.