Second City instructor and writing program head Mary Scruggs died on January 11at the age of 46.

In addition to her role at Second City, Scruggs has had writing, acting and producing roles. Her solo show, “Missing Man,” opened at Live Bait Theater in Chicago before travelling to the New York Fringe Festival, the LA Women’s Theater Festival, and the Sherry Theater in Los Angeles.

WBEZ theater critic Kelly Kleiman spoke with Scruggss fin 2008 before “Missing Man’ went to New York.

Scruggs and Susan Messing adapted Judy Blume’s work  for the show “What Every Girl Should Know.” She created  a series of children’s plays for the Cook County Court called “The Fairy Trials,” which have been in production since 1986. Scruggs has also co-authored two books: “Process: An Improviser’s Journey” with Michael J. Gellman and  “The Second City Guide to Improvisation in the Classroom” with Katherine S. McKnight.

“Mary was funny, brilliant and beloved. She will be greatly missed.” said Second City in a statement.