The founder of the first Serbian professional theater, Jovan Knežević Caca, was born in Novi Bečej (Vranjevo) on September 26, 1818, to father Mojsije, a merchant, and mother Sofija, a homemaker. His love for theater and actors was nurtured in his parents' home.
His father, Mojsije, as a merchant, was also part of the theater movement. After completing elementary school in his hometown, he went to Kecskemét for further education. This move provided him with the opportunity to see real professional actors on stage, which helped him acquire some theatrical education. He completed six grades of Latin school there, and after finishing his education in 1837, he returned to Vranjevo, where he worked as a municipal clerk.
As a theater enthusiast and lover, he occasionally lived in many cities where amateur theater troupes existed or performed, which allowed him to prove himself as an actor and director. In 1844, he returned to Novi Bečej, where he organized a stronger amateur troupe, including the best actors from his town and surroundings.
For a short time in 1857, he was a member of the Youth Theater in Belgrade, and in the autumn of that same year, he founded a new amateur society in Novi Bečej, with which he worked until his departure to Serbian Čanad.
In October 1860, Jovan Knežević achieved his dream by founding a private professional theater, which toured many towns in Vojvodina.
A particularly significant year for Serbian theater was 1861, when Knežević's group performed again in Novi Sad from June 10 to July 16. Due to financial reasons, the group disbanded, and most of its members petitioned to join the Serbian Reading Room, led by Svetozar Miletić. From the core of Knežević's troupe, Jovan Đorđević founded the Serbian National Theater in Novi Sad on July 16, 1861. After this event, Knežević returned to Novi Bečej, where he formed a new troupe with the remaining members, which toured many towns in Vojvodina and continued its activities until his death on June 3, 1864, in Novi Bečej.
Lazar Mečkić, "The Role of Novi Bečej Residents in the Development of Serbian Theater," Belgrade 1988.
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