About Neal
Neal Learner is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and composer whose work draws on many influences, from classical and musical theater to bluegrass and rock.
His latest musical, French Cupcakes, had its world premiere in October 2025 by the Bethesda Little Theatre. His previous musical, TREES: A New Musical, had its world premiere in October 2023 by the same company. In November 2022, he debuted a staged singing of his operetta, Get Me Home, at the Athenaeum in Alexandria, Va. The first act of Get Me Home premiered in April 2020 in an online performance by Taphouse Theatre company of Fort Worth, Texas. His other musical theater works include the critically praised sung-through musical "LIFE: A Comic Opera in Three Short Acts," which premiered at the 2017 Capital Fringe Festival, and music and lyrics for "Soul Redeemer," book by playwright Paul Handy, which premiered at the 2019 Capital Fringe Festival.
Neal also is a classically trained violinist. In March 2025, he performed a recital of his violin-guitar
duets with guitarist Oscar Somersalo. In October 2021, Neal debuted a series of his violin compositions in a performance with then Alexandria Poet Laureate KaNikki Jakarta called Poetry With Strings Attached.
In 2010 he released Would You Like to Be a Mermaid, a CD of songs for and about children. Neal performs his music and poetry throughout the Washington, D.C., area, and lives with his wife in Alexandria. Contact: learnermusic @ hotmail.com
News
Maryland Theatre Guide Review: ‘French Cupcakes’ presented by Bethesda Little Theatre at The Writer’s Center
…heartwarming and bittersweet…fabulous, relatable production…
Not everything is light and fluffy in “French Cupcakes,” the newest world premiere presented by Bethesda Little Theatre. This original musical, written by Neal Learner and directed by Michael Fowle, with music direction by Paul Rossen, confronts the harsh reality of what happens when people fail to realize their hopes and dreams. The result is heartwarming and bittersweet in this fabulous, relatable production that reveals the tantalizing twists that can arise when life’s plans take a different direction.
DC Theater Arts Review: Bethesda Little Theatre’s new musical ‘French Cupcakes’ is delish
French Cupcakes by Neal Learner is a fluffy, engaging, world-premiere musical about allowing ourselves to dream and the reality when those dreams just don’t come true.
Bethesda Little Theatre's World Premiere of French Cupcakes, a New Musical by Neal Learner
October 10-12, 1-19, 2025, Bethesda Writer's Center
French Cupcakes is more than a legendary café-bakery in this midwestern college town: it’s a place of dreams. Café manager/grad student Tina dreams of becoming a diplomat. House musician Nick dreams of becoming a country music star. Second year MBA student Bridget dreams of becoming a Wall Street titan. Baristas dream of becoming Cancan dancers in Paris. And café owner Pierre dreams of selling his shop and retiring along the French Riviera. When Pierre puts his dream into action, the others scramble to adjust their own dreams. Dreams ruined, dreams deferred, dreams realized: French Cupcakes explores the twists and turns of our desires that fuel this thing called life.
Where dreams come true, just not the ones that you expect.
New Strings: Original Works for Guitar Solo & Violin-Guitar Duet
WHEN: Sunday, March 16, 2025, 2-3 PM
WHERE: Athenaeum, 201 Prince Street, Old Town, Alexandria
ADMISSION: Free
INFO: www.nvfaa.org/happening
String-instrument lovers are invited to enjoy a unique recital of new works for guitar solo and violin-guitar duet by composers Oscar Somersalo (guitar) and Neal Learner (violin). The event promises something for everyone with virtuosic playing and delightful compositions that span musical genres from classical and jazz to pop and rock. The performance is free and takes place at the beautiful Athenaeum in historic Old Town, Alexandria.
ABOUT OSCAR SOMERSALO
Award-winning Finnish guitarist Oscar Somersalo performs as a soloist and chamber musician in America and Europe. In recent seasons Somersalo has appeared with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra at Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, and with Panama National Symphony Orchestra in Panama. His performance in Helsinki was described as "passionate virtuosity" in Helsingin Sanomat.
Somersalo won 1st prize in 2019 at ECU Guitar Competition in the USA. In 2017 he won 1st prize at Appalachian Guitar Fest Solo Guitar Competition and Philadelphia Classical Guitar Competition in the USA as well as 2nd prize in 2009 at the International Guitar Competition “Ciudad de Llerena” in Spain.
Somersalo earned the Master of Music degree and the Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, where he studied under international virtuoso Manuel Barrueco. He is also a graduate of the famed Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where he earned the Bachelor of Music degree. More: www.youtube.com/@oscarsomersalo9241
MD Theatre Guide Review: ‘Trees’ presented by Bethesda Little Theatre at The Writer’s Center
…topical and intriguing…a provocative and thoughtfully crafted production…
Musicals are notoriously difficult to get off the ground. Local DC-area composer, Neal Learner, was not deterred. Inspired by the often-passionate conversations centered around urban land-use policies, Learner, an avid proponent of city green space, crafted a topical and intriguing show. It examines not only what happens when urban development runs rampant, but also looks at the power of young voices fighting for the preservation of our planet.
DC Theater Arts Review: Fresh and new musical ‘TREES’ takes root at Bethesda Little Theatre
In a show presented with style and creativity, young people take a stand to preserve woodlands threatened by corporate greed.
TREES: A New Musical by local composer Neal Learner “explores the conflict that arises when developers view land as a resource to be exploited, and environmentalists view it as a treasure to be protected. Who will prevail?” Young people taking a stand to preserve woodlands threatened by corporate greed — it’s a tale as old as time. Yet I was surprised by how refreshing such familiar material could be when presented with style and creativity — everything felt fresh and new.
The opening number, “Trees,” showcases the gorgeous voices of Nora Rudmann and Evan Hamilton as Rachel Spring and Henry Walden (the character names are environmental nudges). Through their eyes, luscious tones, and playful lyrics by Neal Learner, we get a sense of beautiful meadowland filled with trees complete with a creek, a lake, and rolling hills.
Alexandria Times review “TREES: A New Musical”
...“TREES: A New Musical” is a wonderfully entertaining production with a powerful message: We could all benefit from listening to the voices of young people. And it makes it all that much easier to listen to when the message is sung in a catchy melody by a superb cast of performers. ...
DC Theater Arts: Bethesda Little Theatre to stage world premiere of ‘TREES: A New Musical’
Local composer Neal Learner drew inspiration from impact of large-scale development projects on the DC region over the past 20 years.
Join the Bethesda Little Theatre (BLT) when it presents the world premiere of TREES: A New Musical, by Alexandria, Virginia, composer and writer Neal Learner.
TREES follows the story of Rachel Spring, a high school environmental activist, as she and her best friend Henry take drastic steps to save a beloved forest from being torn down to make way for luxury townhomes and mixed-use condos. Standing in their way are the city’s powerful Mayor Pilton and developer Dirk Ramelton, who argue that more housing is needed to keep up with booming demand.