What should I look for in a good theater script or play?

I'd push back a bit on the idea that you're overwhelmed by options being a bad thing. Most groups would kill to have that problem instead of scraping by with whatever's available. That said, yeah, there's definitely a difference between what reads well in your chair at home versus what actually works when actors are moving around on a stage with lights and an audience watching.

The big thing I'd look for is whether the script actually *needs* to be performed. Some plays are basically just conversations that could happen anywhere - nothing wrong with that, but they won't grab people unless your actors are phenomenal. What you want is something where the stage itself matters, where the dialogue builds momentum, and where scenes have clear conflict that moves things forward. Read it out loud with a few people, not silently. You'll immediately feel whether it drags or whether people are actually invested in what's happening. Also consider your actual resources - don't pick some massive production with 30 characters and intricate set pieces if you've got maybe 15 people and a budget that's basically nothing. That's how good scripts become disasters.

Look at whether the roles fit what you've actually got available. A script with one huge lead and four tiny parts is annoying if you want people to feel like they have real parts. Check if the humor lands when you read it (assuming it's meant to be funny) and whether there are moments that'll give your actors something interesting to work with emotionally. And honestly, talk to whoever's directing it first - they'll know what they can actually pull off better than anyone. They're the one who has to make it work.

The thing nobody mentions enough is whether the script actually *breathes* on stage - like, are there natural pauses, do scenes have rhythm, or does it feel like everyone's just delivering dialogue? Read a few scenes out loud with people, not silently, because some plays that look great on the page totally drag when actors perform them. Also consider your actual cast size and skill level; a script might be brilliant but if it needs 20 people and you have 8, or demands serious emotional depth from inexperienced actors, you'll have a rough time. And don't sleep on practical stuff like set requirements and whether you can actually pull off the technical elements without going broke or losing your mind during tech week.

From my experience, the biggest thing that separates a script that works on stage from one that just reads well is whether the blocking feels natural - like, can actors actually *move* and interact with the space, or does the script chain everyone to their positions? I learned this the hard way when our club did a script that was technically well-written but had three characters standing in a line delivering exposition for twenty minutes straight, and it was like watching paint dry even though the dialogue was clever. Beyond that, consider your actual resources: do you have the budget for multiple sets and props, or should you lean toward something with minimal staging requirements? A script that feels right for your group's strengths matters more than picking the "best" play objectively - so if you've got strong comedic timing in your cast, a heavy drama might flounder, but the same group could make a lighter two-character piece absolutely shine.