Larger text Larger text Smaller text Smaller text Print E-mail

Budding superstars Jonas Brothers rockin' this summer.

Photos
click to enlarge

Jonas Brothers
AP

click to enlarge

"Camp Rock"
AP

Did you know?
Did you know?:

Demi Lovato, the "Camp Rock" star, is also opening for the Jonas Brothers tour this summer.

Also: Four Jonas singles have reached the Billboard overall chart. "Hold On" was No. 53, "Year 3000" was 31, "When You Look in My Eyes" was 25, "S.O.S." was 17.

And: Yes, there's a spare Jonas brother. Frankie is 7.

Ways to get us

Subscribe to our publications

Like any logical teenager, Joe Jonas wanted to star in a movie. The Disney Channel's "Camp Rock" loomed.

"I auditioned for it last summer," he said. "They told me I got it."

The producers added one thing: If his brothers wanted to be in the film, some roles could be expanded to suit them.

Things are like that when you're a Jonas Brother and the world likes you. Now this is their summer, with:

• "Camp Rock," which debuts at 8 p.m. Friday on the Disney Channel and reruns often.

• "Living the Dream: The Jonas Brothers," a reality mini-show. It's at 7:55 p.m. most Fridays on the Disney Channel.

• A concert tour. It's being turned into a 3-D movie, in the style of the Miley Cyrus film.

Oh yes, the Jonases were also in the Cyrus film. And in the "American Idol" finale.

And now they're in "Camp Rock," set in a make-believe music camp. "We've never been to a camp like that," Kevin Jonas said, "but we wish we had."

The film was shot in the Canadian countryside, 45 minutes from civilization. "It was a beautiful place," Demi Lovato said. "We felt like we really were in camp."

Lovato, 15, is actually the central character. She plays sweet Mitchie Torres, whose mom works as a camp cook so Mitchie can be there. A rock star (Joe Jonas, 18) shows up with his bandmates (Kevin Jonas, 20, and Nick Jonas, 15).

The arrogant star is impressed by the idealism of the campers -- and by hearing a beautiful voice in the distance, but not knowing whose it is.

It's Mitchie, in sort of a modern "Cinderella." The rock prince has to find her.

Along the way are a dozen songs, including solos by Lovato and Joe Jonas, a duet and a Jonas Brothers song.

This might seem imposing for a young actress, but Lovato has already worked with one of TV biggest stars -- Barney, the purple dinosaur.

She grew up in Dallas (Barney's turf) and was on the show with her friend Selena Gomez, now of "Wizards of Waverly Place." Then she paused.

"I gave up acting when I was 11, because I couldn't take the rejection," she said.

Her parents approved. "They were just, 'Go for it. Go play soccer and have fun.'"

Fortunately, she kept up the piano, guitar and voice. After an 18-month break, she returned to acting. That included Disney's short-form "As the Bell Rings" and now "Camp Rock."

The Jonas Brothers grew up closer to a show-business center. That was in Wyckoff, N.J., within reach of New York. "Nick and I would drive into the city every day," Joe said.

They auditioned for theater and landed several shows. Nick even reached Broadway in "Les Miserables," "Annie Get Your Gun" and -- as a teacup, no less -- "Beauty and the Beast."

Nick also worked on a solo album for a branch of Columbia Records; then the music people suggested a switch.

"I recorded a song with my brothers," he said. "They liked the dynamic of it."

From the Everlys to the Ramones, this idea has worked. "I think it's genetic," Kevin said. "There's something about brothers singing together that makes real harmonies."

The Jonas Brothers' pop sound has clicked. Their singles haven't reached the Billboard top-10 yet, but the "Jonas Brothers" album was No. 5.

For Joe -- whose original ambitions were in comedy -- that has meant a detour. "We love acting," he said.

Now he gets to do it all -- act, sing and search for the Cinderella-style beauty.