BLOOMINGTON - The Challenger Learning Center hopes to draw a crowd Thursday to watch its own crew of funny people.

The staff of the space simulation education center has convinced six Twin City professionals to try their hand at amateur comedy as a way to raise money for the center's missions.

"It's an absolutely fantastic place. It really enriches the community, and this is a fun way to support it," said John Bishop of Bloomington. He's among those who have agreed to drum up laughs for the crowd.

Bishop, an architect with the Farnsworth Group, helped design the Challenger site in the former airport terminal. After that experience, the center became a passion for him, he said.

Now he's a regular volunteer around the place, helping staff design new graphics and other work. As a familiar face, he got roped into the first comedy fundraiser in 2007.

He's excited to be returning.

"Last time I tried to come up with a theme, a concept," he said. That year, he pulled from real life, talking about the funny ways his co-workers were different.

Sara McCubbins, who works as a flight director at the center said she and colleague Brandy Hope have been organizing the comedy night for about six months. The lead sponsors are Freestar Bank and IAA Credit Union.

Besides the dinner and comedy, an admission ticket also buys chances at door prizes.

"There's a lot of fundraisers that have dinner and auctions. It can be overwhelming for people to choose which ones to attend," McCubbins said. "So, we thought we'd be a little different, and try to have fun with this approach

"And we think they are going to be hilarious," she added.

Besides Bishop, the other would-be comedians are Sally Pyne of Lincoln College-Normal, Kimberly Burgess of State Farm Insurance Cos., Doug Minter of Heartland Community College, Jason Spaulding of Avanti's Restaurant and Todd Wineburner, of WJBC-FM radio.

The fund-raiser will help fund operating costs, said Stacey Shrewsbury, lead flight director.

Officially it's the Challenger Learning Center at the Prairie Aviation Museum until the end of 2009. Come January, the center will move to the Heartland Community College at Normal.

The museum is organizing a separate capital campaign to address a nearly $1 million debt associated with the Challenger's start-up costs.

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Comedy for a cause

What: Comedy Night for the Challenger

When: 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday

Where: Holiday Inn near Central Illinois Regional Airport on Illinois 9

Tickets: $40; available at the center

Contact: (309) 661-1621

Details: Local professionals try stand-up comedy as amateurs as a fund-raiser for the Challenger Learning Center; also buffet dinner and silent auction