CHERRY ON TOP The Cherry Lane Theatre honors playwrights Edward Albee and David Henry Hwang, theater lawyer John Breglio, and the speaker of the New York City Council, Christine Quinn,at its annual gala. The event, which is held at the newly renovated theater, is hosted by Tony Award-winning actress Judith Ivey. F. Murray Abraham, Robby Benson, Billy Crudup, Karla DeVito, and Dule Hill are among the performers. An auction follows the dinner. Monday, April 3, 6 p.m., Cherry Lane Theatre, 38 Commerce St., between Barrow and Bedford streets, 212-989-2020, $500.

ON THE SPOT Slam Theater invites artists and audiences to participate in an evening of theater with impromptu performances and some friendly competition. Emerging playwrights and actors are called out of a hat to perform fresh scripts, unrehearsed and in front of the judges who will be scoring them. Tonight, April 4, April 11, 7 p.m.; Tuesday, April 18, 10 p.m., the 45th Street Theater, 354 W. 45th St., between Eighth and Ninth avenues, 212-563-6269, $5 suggested donation.

THE IMMIGRANT JOURNEY Ellis Island Living Theater dramatizes the immigrant experience in “Embracing Freedom,” which opens this weekend and runs until November. A 30-minute theatrical production written by Nicholas van Hoogstraten,”Embracing Freedom” portrays the challenges of immigration both past and present. Sunday through November 5, runs seven times daily, Ellis Island Immigration Museum, Living Theater, Ellis Island, 52 Vanderbilt Ave., 212-561-4500, $5.