On the pavement in front of “Come From Away,” a full band and cast performed the show’s first tune.

[More: Most theaters closed on their most lucrative night of the week, but some casts gave their fans a memorable moment.]

Of course, some people saw nothing amusing about the blackout. It was terrifying for passengers briefly trapped in subway cars. Others, especially older adults, feared that they would not be able to leave apartment buildings because elevators were out of order.

Businesses, from restaurants and bars to movie theaters, lost money. And it was a hectic night for police officers, firefighters and other emergency personnel.

There were no reports of deaths from the blackout, the authorities said.

The power failed at 6:47 p.m., and it was at least three hours before it began returning in stages.

At 46th Street, first it was a traffic light that went from yellow to green in an instant.

A man began dancing as he crossed, singing the words “Can you feel it.”

Then, the bright lights inside Healthy Mart, at the corner of 45th Street and 10th Avenue, followed suit, illuminating the store’s operator, Alla Saleh, 32, who sighed in relief behind the counter.

“I lost a lot of ice cream, a lot of food,” he said. “We lost a lot of money.”

But just 10 blocks downtown, it was still lights out at AM-PM Deli — almost.