Michael Crawford, the Tony-winning star of The Phantom of the Opera, filed suit Jan. 26 against MGM Grand Inc., claiming he was unfairly fired from the Las Vegas high-tech extravaganza EFX! according to a published report in USA Today (Jan. 28).

Ironically, Crawford filed the suit on the 10th anniversary of the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera.

Crawford, 56, who seeks unspecified damages, claims he was repeatedly injured while doing stunts for EFX!

In August 1996, Crawford visited a doctor and learned that he had "a severe, debilitating and permanent injury," the lawsuit contends -- and four days later the hotel terminated the actor's weekly $150,000 contract that was supposed to run through March 1997.

According to USA Today, Crawford's agent says the actor had hip replacement surgery in December and that he's now in Los Angeles working on a PBS show about his life and career. Coincidentally, Crawford is about to release a CD of religious songs, "On Eagle's Wings," Feb. 17 on the Atlantic label.