"Flowers in the Desert": Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas 1993-2012 explores the intersection of contemporary Las Vegas entertainment and Cirque du Soleils style of new American Circus. Cirque du Soleil has changed the expectations of spectacle theatre on the Las Vegas strip by constantly striving to provide an experience for all audience members that is entertaining and awe inspiring regardless of their background and native language. Through wordless, exemplary production standards, Cirque du Soleil has raised the bar for performance art in the Las Vegas desert. This text is an examination of the phenomenon of the entertainment company, Cirque du Soleil, from its inception as a small band of street performers to the entertainment machine it is today with the primary focus upon the years 1993 - 2012, the time which encompasses Cirques arrival in sin city through today. Cirques opening in Las Vegas has changed the nature of Las Vegas spectacle entertainment and Las Vegas has changed Cirques performance standards. This symbiotic relationship between the entity and its locale, has changed the nature of highly technological productions forever.

Dr. Toewe is a Professor of Theatre at the University of Northern Colorado. As an active theatre practitioner, Dr. Toewe has fulfilled numerous rolls, including designing, directing and dramaturgy. Dr. Toewe holds a BS from The College of William and Mary, an MFA from Tulane University, and her Ph.D. from the University of Colorado.