I've just been lamenting the loss of my brunneras in my shade garden but these are my top plants in my shade gardens:
anemone - late to show in Spring but those autumn blooms are wonderful
hostas
heuchera
pulmonaria
Japanese painted fern
These plants have worn out their welcome in the shade garden:
Solomon Seal (no longer variegated)
lamium
lily of the valley
@alwaysbehindMN, Linda - we seem to have the same garden cat!