The 24-year-old impressed and was chosen to proceed to the grand finals on August 7.

The winner of the competition will receive flights, accommodation to New York City and four tickets to Broadway shows. 

But the real golden ticket for aspiring stars are four workshops with Broadway writers and cast members, and time to perform on stage during a production. 

Benita saw the opportunity on Facebook, bought the entry ticket to sing.

She had little time to prepare, and faced some of the region’s nastiest weather on her coastal-bound drive to the event. 

“I had to go down on one of the worst days; the snow and the rain and the wind and I really endured the storm to find that rainbow,” she chuckled.

She had only two hours to calm down and prepare before the audition before a live audience. 

Benita chose Wishing You Somehow Here Again as her first song, and said she felt her nervous tingle inhibited her performance.

She has faith in her voice, currently under the guidance of opera singer Peta Blyth, but she admitted fear of disappointing the audience was a consistent demon.

That self-belief put paid to her doubts halfway though her second song, I Dreamed a Dream.

“Something clicked and (I thought) there’s a purpose to this song, and why I’m doing this and I just found I could let go,” she said.

“I just belted it out.”

She is considering her song choices for the finals against 23 other performers at Toukley, and said this ambitious bid for Broadway is the biggest thing she has ever done.

Benita is an early-childhood teacher, and admitted a career as a stage performer has always seemed more a wish than a purpose.

“Sometimes I’m too afraid to take that leap, but after this, I have seen that I can do it; having that goal of going to Broadway,” she said confidently.

“If I can get through this, I can really set my goals and achieve them.

“I really want this.”