The yews should be fine in the shade, but some maples have very shallow roots, and may out-compete anything you plant under them, particularly Norway Maples.

For a sunnier spot, how about Weigela? I went on a tour of several gardens in a neighboring town this weekend, and one of the gardens had a hedge of variegated Weigela between the patio and the rest of the garden. It was gorgeous in full bloom, and the foliage would be attractive and provide good screening all summer. It had a casual, old-fashioned charm that an evergreen hedge would not have accomplished, and was perfect for that setting. I'm looking for a spot in my own garden for a similar hedge.

Thanks for the reply, I didn't realize weigela would be tall enough for what I want. I think they'd be perfect for what I want, now to find some.

Donna - I have Weigela in our front garden - it gets huge too and has beautiful blooms! But here it dies back come winter.

I hope you don't mind me asking your your post for another suggestion for a shrub for privacy. I need something evergreen - thought of Rhods but also saw this and thought I could make a "fence" planted like a triangle in our back yard. So two rows planted in between each other for a screen buffer and privacy.
American Arborvitae Degroot's Spire
[47590]

Thanks :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: American Arborvitae Degroot's Spire

I don't mind if it dies back during the winter, the privacy issue is more for the summer when the goofballs next door stand around with a beer in their hands all day long, cutting grass 5 times a week, driving around the yard on anything that has a motor & generally looking my way and laughing at my attempts to garden in peace and quiet.