11-year old Shannon Tavarez, star of Broadway's The Lion King , died on November 2, 2010, after a long battle with leukemia.
Her passing came after doctors were unable to find a bone-marrow match for a possible transplant— a search that gained a national profile once Alicia Keys, Rihanna and 50 Cent heard of Shannon's need for a transplant and began campaigning for the little girl. Her plight had prompted more than 8,000 people from around the country to sign up as bone-marrow donors in a campaign in her name.
Shannon got the break of her young life last year, nailing the role of Young Nala after her first open audition at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
From the age of 3, she attended the Harlem School of the Arts for vocals and piano, where her coach encouraged her to audition.
She made her Broadway debut in September 2009 and played four of eight shows a week until April 2010, when she was diagnosed.
She is survived by her mother, Odney.
(Sources: E!, NY Daily News, People)
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