We open on a Friday and have the Thursday prior to opening off.  Most theatre's I've worked with usually have the night prior to opening off.  As both an actor and director I like having that off day prior to opening to have the rest.

I also don't like having pick-up rehearsals between weekends.   I've never had a pick up, brush up or speed thru between weekends that was even marginally beneficial.  They are a myth and a security blanket for those that haven't done their work during the normal rehearsal process.  If you need more rehearsal after being away from the show for only four or five days then something is fundamentally wrong.   As a director I don't have them and actors are grateful for it.

As an actor, I used to feel the same way... however, as a director, I've seen the difference a brush-up makes. The first performance of the weekend is crisper, the pacing is better and the actors are more confident. That means the show is better and the audience goes away happier.

We also used to do your "unplugged" rehearsal, do the jokes we wanted to do during the regular rehearsal... That was FUN! But the shows suffered for it... our timing was off, our pacing sloppy. I didn't really feel it as an actor, but as a director, I saw it.

So I changed the way I ran a brush-up... first brush is a serious brush. The second one (depending on the quality of the shows and the caliber of the actors) is a little looser. However, if I feel like things are going downhill, I call a stop to the proceedings and we go back over the spot that had problems.

Most of our directors have started taking the same approach. We still have a good time, and the audiences get a great show, no matter what night they come. And for me, that's the bottom line.

The flip side of the argument? When I'm acting, that last brush can still get a little loose... at least until the director tells me to behave.

I also recommend leaving a "dark night" before opening.  Mike's idea of a line-through (speed-through) is also helpful. 

Two reasons:  1) The cast is usually stressed out and could use a night off just to mull things over.  Over-rehearsing can often lead to diminishing returns.

2)  It gives the tech crew a full 24-hours of actor-free space in which to complete last-minute finishing tweaks to the set, costumes, props, lights, etc.

Everybody returns on opening night to a freshly completed set, clean costumes and an upbeat, positive spirit.