Lights out in New York: Power outage hits Broadway theaters

NEW YORK - A power outage crippled the tourist-filled heart of Manhattan just as Saturday night Broadway shows were set to start, sending theatergoers spilling into siren-filled streets, knocking out Times Square's towering electronic screens and bringing subway lines to a near halt.

About 42,000 customers lost electricity in the early evening, according to power utility Con Edison, which didn't yet disclose a cause of the power failure.

The power returned around 10:00 pm, accompanied by applause that could be heard throughout the formerly darkened streets.