Hick's Yew is a very good vertical evergreen; it's fast growing and readily lends itself to pruning once it achieves the desired size. It also looks great with hostas in front of/under it.

Sundazing, I'm just stumped. I can't think of something that big that grows in shade and looks good in the winter.

I'd say redtwig dogwood shrubs, but I'm pretty sure it wants more sun during the summertime.

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll google and learn more about them and may find something else when researching online nurseries. Any online nurseries you buy from that you'd recommend? Also, any thoughts on using bamboo--the clumping non-invasive evergreen type as a background for the hostas?

Hollies do well in part shade and look beautiful all year.
Lainey

I would put Anabelle Hydrangeas with them. The twigs could be fun to look at in the winter. Its not evergreen but would look nice.

Since Lainey BotanyBabe mentions hollies as a part-shade plant, now I'm going to go look at 'Sky Pencil' hollies... I've always admired their fiercely vertical shape, so yang as a contrast to the nice floaty yin of hostas...